Distance measurement device, control method for distance measurement, and control program for distance measurement

ABSTRACT

A distance measurement device includes an imaging unit, a measurement unit, a change unit that is capable of changing an angle at which the directional light is emitted, a deriving unit that derives an in-image irradiation position corresponding to an irradiation position of the directional light onto the subject which is used in measurement, within a captured image based on the distance measured by the measurement unit and the angle, and a control unit that controls the measurement unit to measure the distance and controls the deriving unit to derive the in-image irradiation position based on the distance measured by the measurement unit and the angle changed by the change unit until the in-image irradiation position falls in a default range within the captured image in a case where the in-image irradiation image is out of the default range.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2016/063582, filed May 2, 2016, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further, thisapplication claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2015-171421 filed Aug. 31, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

A technology of the present disclosure relates to a distance measurementdevice, a control method for distance measurement, and a control programfor distance measurement.

2. Description of the Related Art

Initially, in the present specification, distance measurement means thata distance to a subject which is a measurement target from a distancemeasurement device is measured. In the present specification, a capturedimage means an image acquired by imaging the subject by an imaging unitthat images the subject. In the present specification,irradiation-position pixel coordinates mean two-dimensional coordinatesas two-dimensional coordinates for specifying a position of a pixel,among pixels included in the captured image, which corresponds to anirradiation position of directional light in a real space by thedistance measurement device on the assumption that distance measurementis performed by using the distance measurement device that performs thedistance measurement based on a time during which the directional light(for example, laser beam) emitted by an emission unit toward the subjectsupposed to be a distance measurement target travels in a reciprocatingmotion. In the present specification, an in-image irradiation positionmeans a position acquired as a position within the captured image, whichcorresponds to the irradiation position of the directional light in thereal space by the distance measurement device. In other words, thein-image irradiation position means a position of a pixel, among thepixels included in the captured image, which is specified by theirradiation-position pixel coordinates.

In recent years, a distance measurement device provided with an imagingunit has been developed. In such a type of distance measurement device,a subject is irradiated with a laser beam, and the subject is capturedin a state in which the subject is irradiated with the laser beam. Thecaptured image acquired by imaging the subject is presented to a user,and thus, an irradiation position of the laser beam is ascertained bythe user through the captured image.

In recent years, a distance measurement device having a function ofderiving a dimension of a target within an image in a real space as in ameasurement device described in JP2014-232095A has been also developed.

The measurement device described in JP2014-232095A includes a unit thatdisplays an isosceles trapezoid shape of a structure having an isoscelestrapezoid portion captured by the imaging unit and a unit that specifiesfour vertices of the displayed isosceles trapezoid shape and acquiringcoordinates of the four specified vertices. The measurement devicedescribed in JP2014-232095A specifies a distance between two points on aplane including the isosceles trapezoid shape or a distance to one pointon a plane from the imaging unit, acquires a shape of the structure fromthe coordinates of the four vertices and a focal length, and acquires asize of the structure from the specified distance.

Incidentally, in a case where a dimension of a target within thecaptured image acquired by imaging the subject by the imaging unit isderived, a plurality of pixels corresponding to a region as a derivingtarget in the captured image in the real space is designated by theuser. The dimension of the region in the real space which is designatedby the user is derived based on the distance measured by the distancemeasurement device. Thus, in a case where the dimension of the region inthe real space specified by the plurality of designated pixels isaccurately derived, it is preferable that the in-image irradiationposition is derived with high accuracy and the acquired in-imageirradiation position together with the distance is ascertained by theuser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, P2014-232095A does not describe a unit that derives thein-image irradiation position with high accuracy.

The user designates a region as the dimension deriving target byreferring to the in-image irradiation position, but the deriveddimension is completely different from an actual dimension in a casewhere the in-image irradiation position and the irradiation position ofthe laser beam in the real space are positions on planes of whichorientations and positions are different.

In a case where a colored laser beam of which an irradiation position isable to be visually perceived within a distance of about several metersfrom the distance measurement device is used as the laser beam, thein-image irradiation position may be visually specified and designatedfrom the captured image depending on a diameter and/or intensity of thelaser beam. However, for example, in a case where a structure separatedfrom a building site by several tens of meters or several hundreds ofmeters is irradiated with the laser beam in the daytime, it is difficultto visually specify the in-image irradiation position from the capturedimage. A method of specifying the in-image irradiation position from adifference between the plurality of captured images acquired in asequence of time is also considered. However, in a case where thestructure separated from the building site by several tens of meters orseveral hundreds of meters is irradiated with the laser beam, it isdifficult to specify the in-image irradiation position. In a case wherethe in-image irradiation position is not able to be specified, the userperforms the distance measurement while the user does not recognizewhether or not the subject assumed as the distance measurement target isirradiated with the laser beam.

The embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of suchcircumstances, and provides a distance measurement device, a controlmethod for distance measurement, and a control program for distancemeasurement which are capable of performing distance measurement in astate in which an in-image irradiation position is in a default rangewithin a captured image.

A distance measurement device according to a first aspect of the presentinvention comprises an imaging unit that images a subject, a measurementunit that measures a distance to the subject by emitting directionallight which is light having directivity to the subject and receivingreflection light of the directional light, a change unit that is capableof changing an angle at which the directional light is emitted, aderiving unit that derives an in-image irradiation position, whichcorresponds to an irradiation position of the directional light onto thesubject which is used in measurement performed by the measurement unit,within a captured image acquired by imaging the subject by the imagingunit based on the angle and the distance measured by the measurementunit, and a control unit that controls the measurement unit to measurethe distance, and controls the deriving unit to derive the in-imageirradiation position based on the distance measured by the measurementunit and the angle changed by the change unit, until the in-imageirradiation position falls in a default range within the captured imagein a case where the in-image irradiation position is out of the defaultrange.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to thefirst aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform thedistance measurement in a state in which the in-image irradiationposition is in the default range within a captured image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the distancemeasurement device according to the first aspect of the presentinvention, the control unit controls the measurement unit to measure thedistance, controls the change unit to change the angle by driving apower source, and controls the deriving unit to derive the in-imageirradiation position based on the distance measured by the measurementunit and the angle changed by the change unit, until the in-imageirradiation position falls in the default range in a case where thein-image irradiation position is out of the default range.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to thesecond aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce aneffort to position the in-image irradiation position within the defaultrange compared to a case where the angle is changed by the change unitwithout using the power source.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the distancemeasurement device according to the second aspect of the presentinvention, the control unit controls the power source to generate apower for causing the change unit to change the angle in a direction inwhich a distance between the in-image irradiation position and thedefault range decreases based on a positional relation between thelatest in-image irradiation position and the default range.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to thethird aspect of the present invention, it is possible to position thein-image irradiation position within the default range within thecaptured image with high accuracy compared to a case where the power forcausing the change unit to change the angle is not generated by thepower source regardless of the positional relation between the latestin-image irradiation position and the default range.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the distancemeasurement device according to the first aspect of the presentinvention, the measurement unit includes an emission unit that emits thedirectional light, and the change unit includes a rotation mechanismthat changes the angle by manually rotating at least the emission unitof the measurement unit.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to thefourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily reflectan intention of the user on the change of the angle at which thedirectional light is emitted compared to a case where the rotationmechanism for manually rotating the emission unit is not provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the distancemeasurement device according to any one of the first to fourth aspectsof the present invention, the control unit performs the control for aperiod during which a plurality of captured images acquired bycontinuously imaging the subject by the imaging unit in a sequence oftime is continuously displayed on a first display unit.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to thefifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform thedistance measurement in a state in which the in-image irradiationposition is in the default range within a captured image while referringto the state of the subject.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the distancemeasurement device according to any one of the first to fourth aspectsof the present invention further comprises: a performing unit thatperforms at least one of focus adjustment or exposure adjustment on thesubject, and a reception unit that receives an imaging preparationinstruction to cause the performing unit to start to perform at leastone of the focus adjustment or the exposure adjustment before actualexposing is performed by the imaging unit. The control unit performs thecontrol in a case where the imaging preparation instruction is receivedby the reception unit.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to thesixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent thein-image irradiation position from entering a state in which thein-image irradiation position is not in the default range at the time ofthe actual exposing compared to a case where the control unit does notperform the control in a case where the imaging preparation instructionis received by the reception unit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the distancemeasurement device according to any one of the first to fourth aspectsof the present invention, the control unit controls the measurement unitto intermittently measure the distance, and the control unit performsthe control in a case where a dissimilarity between a distance used inthe deriving of the in-image irradiation position performed in aprevious stage by the deriving unit and a latest distance measured bythe measurement unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to theseventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily tomaintain the state in which the in-image irradiation position is in thedefault range within the captured image compared to a case where thecontrol unit does not perform the control in a case where thedissimilarity is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the distancemeasurement device according to any one of the first to seventh aspectsof the present invention, the control unit controls a second displayunit to display the captured image, and further controls such that thelatest in-image irradiation position derived by the deriving unit isdisplayed so as to be specified in a display region of the capturedimage.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to theeighth aspect of the present invention, the user can easily ascertainthe latest in-image irradiation position compared to a case where thelatest in-image irradiation position is not displayed so as to bespecified in the display region of the captured image.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the distancemeasurement device according to any one of the first to eighth aspectsof the present invention, the control unit controls a third display unitto display the captured image, and further controls such that thedefault range is displayed so as to be specified in a display region ofthe captured image.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to theninth aspect of the present invention, the user can easily ascertain theposition of the default range in the display region of the capturedimage compared to a case where the default range is not displayed so asto be specified in the display region of the captured image.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the distancemeasurement device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects ofthe present invention, the control unit controls a first notificationunit to notify that the in-image irradiation position is within thedefault rage in a case where the in-image irradiation position is withinthe default range.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to thetenth aspect of the present invention, the user can easily recognizethat the in-image irradiation position is in the default range comparedto a case where the notification indicating that the in-imageirradiation position is in the default range is not performed in a casewhere the in-image irradiation position is in the default range.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in thedistance measurement device according to any one of the first to tenthaspects of the present invention, the control unit controls a secondnotification unit to notify that the in-image irradiation position isout of the default range in a case where the in-image irradiationposition is out of the default range.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device according to theeleventh aspect of the present invention, the user can easily recognizethat the in-image irradiation position is out of the default rangecompared to a case where the notification indicating that the in-imageirradiation position is out of the default range is not performed in acase where the in-image irradiation position is out of the defaultrange.

A control method for distance measurement according to a twelfth aspectof the present invention comprises deriving an in-image irradiationposition, which corresponds to an irradiation position of directionallight which is light having directivity on to a subject used inmeasurement performed by a measurement unit that measures a distance tothe subject by emitting the directional light to the subject andreceiving reflection light of the directional light, within a capturedimage acquired by imaging the subject by an imaging unit that images thesubject, based on the distance measured by the measurement unit and anangle changed by a change unit that is capable of changing the angle atwhich the directional light is emitted, the imaging unit, themeasurement unit, and the change unit being included in a distancemeasurement device, and controlling the measurement unit to measure thedistance and controlling the deriving unit to derive the in-imageirradiation position based on the distance measured by the measurementunit and the angle changed by the change unit until the in-imageirradiation position falls in a default range within a captured image ina case where the in-image irradiation position is out of the defaultrange.

Therefore, according to the control method for distance measurementaccording to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possibleto perform the distance measurement in a state in which the in-imageirradiation position is in the default range within a captured image.

A control program for distance measurement according to a thirteenthaspect of the present invention comprises deriving an in-imageirradiation position, which corresponds to an irradiation position ofdirectional light which is light having directivity on to a subject usedin measurement performed by a measurement unit that measures a distanceto the subject by emitting the directional light to the subject andreceiving reflection light of the directional light, within a capturedimage acquired by imaging the subject by an imaging unit that images thesubject, based on the distance measured by the measurement unit and anangle changed by a change unit that is capable of changing the angle atwhich the directional light is emitted, the imaging unit, themeasurement unit, and the change unit being included in a distancemeasurement device, and controlling the measurement unit to measure thedistance and controlling the deriving unit to derive the in-imageirradiation position based on the distance measured by the measurementunit and the angle changed by the change unit until the in-imageirradiation position falls in a default range within a captured image ina case where the in-image irradiation position is out of the defaultrange.

Therefore, according to the control program for distance measurementaccording to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, it ispossible to perform the distance measurement in a state in which thein-image irradiation position is in the default range within a capturedimage.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, an effect capableof performing distance measurement in a state in which an in-imageirradiation position is in a default range within a captured image isacquired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of an external appearance of adistance measurement device according to first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram (schematic side view) showing an exampleof a schematic configuration of a longitudinal rotation mechanismprovided in the distance measurement device according to the first tofifth embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram (schematic front view) showing an exampleof a schematic configuration of a horizontal rotation mechanism providedin the distance measurement device according to the first to fifthembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof main parts of the distance measurement device according to the firstto third embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of a measurement sequenceusing the distance measurement device according to the first to fifthembodiments.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing an example of a laser trigger, alight-emitting signal, a light-receiving signal, and a count signalrequired in a case where measurement using the distance measurementdevice according to the first to fifth embodiments is performed once.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing an example of a histogram (a histogram in acase where a lateral axis represents a distance (measurement value) tothe subject and a longitudinal axis represents the number of times themeasurement is performed) of measurement values acquired in themeasurement sequence using the distance measurement device according tothe first to fifth embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof a main control unit included in the distance measurement deviceaccording to the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for describing a method of measuring adimension (length) of a designated region.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing an example of functions ofmain parts realized by a CPU of the main control unit included in thedistance measurement device according to the first to fourthembodiments.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a distancemeasurement process according to the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart subsequent to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart subsequent to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a correspondencetable according to the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for describing a parameter thatinfluences an in-image irradiation position.

FIG. 16 is a screen diagram showing an example of a first intentioncheck screen according to the first to fifth embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a screen diagram showing an example of a provisionalmeasurement and provisional imaging guide screen according to the firstto fifth embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a screen diagram showing an example of a re-performing guidescreen according to the first to fifth embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a screen diagram showing an example of a second intentioncheck screen according to the first to fifth embodiments.

FIG. 20 is a screen diagram showing an example of a screen in a state inwhich an actual image, a distance, and an irradiation position mark aredisplayed on a display unit according to the first to fifth embodiments.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram showing an example in which a distanceis in a correspondence information distance range, is out of a firstcorrespondence information distance range, and is out of a secondcorrespondence information distance range according to the first tofifth embodiments.

FIG. 22 is a screen diagram showing an example of a screen in a state inwhich an actual image, a distance, an irradiation position mark, and awarning and recommendation message are displayed on the display unitaccording to the first to fifth embodiments.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of an irradiationposition adjustment process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a screen diagram showing an example of a live view image anda frame displayed on the display unit by performing the irradiationposition adjustment process.

FIG. 25 is a screen diagram showing an example of a live view image, aframe, an irradiation position mark, and a message corresponding toout-of-default-range information displayed on the display unit byperforming the irradiation position adjustment process.

FIG. 26 is a screen diagram showing an example of a live view image, aframe, an irradiation position mark, and a message corresponding toin-default-range information displayed on the display unit by performingthe irradiation position adjustment process.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of an irradiationposition adjustment process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of an irradiationposition adjustment process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of an irradiationposition adjustment process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardwareconfiguration of main parts of the distance measurement device accordingto the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardwareconfiguration of main parts of the distance measurement device accordingto the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a screen diagram showing an example of a screen including anactual measurement and actual imaging button, a provisional measurementand provisional imaging button, an imaging system operation modeswitching button, a wide angle instruction button, a telephotoinstruction button, and an irradiation position adjustment buttondisplayed as soft keys on a display unit of a smart device according tothe fifth embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an aspect in whicha distance measurement program and an irradiation position adjustmentprogram are installed in the distance measurement device from a storagemedium that stores a distance measurement program and an irradiationposition adjustment program according to the first to fifth embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment related to a technology of thepresent disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the present embodiment, a distance between a distancemeasurement device and a subject as a measurement target is simplyreferred to as a distance for the sake of convenience in description. Inthe present embodiment, an angle of view (an angle of view on a subjectimage indicating the subject) on the subject is simply referred to as an“angle of view.

First Embodiment

For example, a distance measurement device 10A according to the firstembodiment includes a distance measurement unit 12 and an imaging device14 as shown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, the distancemeasurement unit 12 and a distance measurement control unit 68 (see FIG.4) are an example of a measurement unit according to the technology ofthe present disclosure, and the imaging device 14 is an example of animaging unit according to the technology of the present disclosure.

The imaging device 14 includes a lens unit 16 and an imaging device mainbody 18, and the lens unit 16 is detachably attached to the imagingdevice main body 18.

A hot shoe 20 is provided on a top surface of the imaging device mainbody 18, and the distance measurement unit 12 is detachably attached tothe hot shoe 20.

The distance measurement device 10A has a distance measurement systemfunction of measuring a distance by emitting a laser beam for distancemeasurement to the distance measurement unit 12, and an imaging systemfunction of causing the imaging device 14 to acquire a captured image byimaging the subject. Hereinafter, the captured image acquired by imagingthe subject by using the imaging device 14 by utilizing the imagingsystem function is simply referred to as an “image” or a “capturedimage” for the sake of convenience in description.

The distance measurement device 10A performs one measurement sequence(see FIG. 5) according to one instruction by utilizing the distancemeasurement system function, and ultimately outputs one distance byperforming the one measurement sequence. In the present embodiment,actual measurement and provisional measurement are selectively performedby utilizing the distance measurement system function according to aninstruction of a user in a distance measurement process to be describedbelow (see FIGS. 11 to 13). The actual measurement means measurement inwhich a distance measured by utilizing the distance measurement systemfunction is actually used, and the provisional measurement meansmeasurement performed in a preparation stage of increasing the accuracyof the actual measurement.

The distance measurement device 10A has, as an operation mode of theimaging system function, a still image imaging mode and a video imagingmode. The still image imaging mode is an operation mode for imaging astill image, and the video imaging mode is an operation mode of imaginga motion picture. The still image imaging mode and the video imagingmode are selectively set according to an instruction of the user.

In the present embodiment, the actual imaging and the provisionalimaging are selectively performed by utilizing the imaging systemfunction according to an instruction of the user in the distancemeasurement process to be described below (see FIGS. 11 to 13). Theactual imaging is imaging performed in synchronization with the actualmeasurement, and the provisional imaging is imaging performed insynchronization with the provisional measurement. Hereinafter, for thesake of convenience in description, an image acquired through the actualimaging is referred to as an “actual captured image”, and an imageacquired through the provisional imaging is referred to as a“provisional captured image”. In a case where it is not necessary todistinguish between the “actual captured image” and the “provisionalcaptured image”, the actual captured image and the provisional capturedimage are referred to as an “image” or a “captured image”. Hereinafter,for the sake of convenience in description, the “actual captured image”is also referred to as an “actual image”, and the “provisional capturedimage” is also referred to as a “provisional image”.

For example, the imaging device main body 18 includes a longitudinalrotation mechanism 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The longitudinal rotationmechanism 13 receives a power generated by a motor 17 (see FIG. 4) to bedescribed below, and rotates the hot shoe 20 in a front-viewlongitudinal direction with a front end portion of the hot shoe 20 as arotational axis. Accordingly, the hot shoe 20 to which the distancemeasurement unit 12 is attached is rotated by the longitudinal rotationmechanism 13 in the longitudinal direction in front view, and thus, anorientation of the distance measurement unit 12 is changed in thefront-view longitudinal direction (for example, an A directionrepresented in FIG. 2) in the front-view longitudinal direction. For thesake of convenience in description, although it has been described inthe example shown in FIG. 2 that the hot shoe 20 is rotated in thefront-view longitudinal direction such that a rear end portion of thehot shoe 20 is buried within the imaging device main body 18, thetechnology of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, the hot shoe 20 may be rotated in the front-view longitudinaldirection such that the rear end of the hot shoe 20 is pushed up fromthe imaging device main body 18. Hereinafter, for the sake ofconvenience in description, the front-view longitudinal direction issimply referred to as a “longitudinal direction”.

For example, the imaging device main body 18 includes a horizontalrotation mechanism 15, as shown in FIG. 3. The horizontal rotationmechanism 15 receives a power generated by a motor 19 (see FIG. 4) to bedescribed below, and rotates the hot shoe 20 in a front-view horizontaldirection with a central point of the hot shoe 20 in plan view as arotational axis. Accordingly, the hot shoe 20 to which the distancemeasurement unit 12 is attached is rotated by the horizontal rotationmechanism 15 in the front-view horizontal direction, and thus, anorientation of the distance measurement unit 12 is changed in thefront-view horizontal direction (for example, a B direction representedin FIG. 2). Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience in description, thefront-view horizontal direction is simply referred to as a “horizontaldirection”.

Hereinafter, the longitudinal rotation mechanism and the horizontalrotation mechanism are referred to as a “rotation mechanism” withoutbeing assigned the reference for the sake of convenience in descriptionin a case where it is not necessary to distinguish between thelongitudinal rotation mechanism 13 and the horizontal rotation mechanism15.

For example, the distance measurement unit 12 includes an emission unit22, a light receiving unit 24, and a connector 26, as shown in FIG. 4.

The connector 26 is able to be connected to the hot shoe 20, and thedistance measurement unit 12 is operated under the control of theimaging device main body 18 in a state in which the connector 26 isconnected to the hot shoe 20.

The emission unit 22 includes a laser diode (LD) 30, a condenser lens(not shown), an object lens 32, and an LD driver 34.

The condenser lens and the object lens 32 are provided along an opticalaxis of a laser beam emitted by the LD 30, and the condenser lens andthe object lens 32 are arranged in order along the optical axis from theLD 30.

The LD 30 emits a laser beam for distance measurement which is anexample of directional light according to the technology of the presentdisclosure. The laser beam emitted by the LD 30 is a colored laser beam.For example, as long as the subject is separated from the emission unit22 in a range of about several meters, an irradiation position of thelaser beam is visually recognized in a real space, and is visuallyrecognized from the captured image acquired by the imaging device 14.

The condenser lens concentrates the laser beam emitted by the LD 30, andcauses the concentrated laser beam to pass. The object lens 32 faces thesubject, and emits the laser beam that passes through the condenser lensto the subject.

The LD driver 34 is connected to the connector 26 and the LD 30, anddrives the LD 30 in order to emit the laser beam according to aninstruction of the imaging device main body 18.

The light receiving unit 24 includes a photodiode (PD) 36, an objectlens 38, and a light-receiving signal processing circuit 40. The objectlens 38 is disposed on a light receiving surface of the PD 36. After thelaser beam emitted by the emission unit 22 reaches the subject, areflection laser beam which is a laser beam reflected from the subjectis incident on the object lens 38. The object lens 38 factors thereflection laser beam to pass, and guides the reflection laser beam tothe light receiving surface of the PD 36. The PD 36 receives thereflection laser beam that passes through the object lens 38, andoutputs an analog signal corresponding to a light reception amount, as alight-receiving signal.

The light-receiving signal processing circuit 40 is connected to theconnector 26 and the PD 36, amplifies the light-receiving signal inputfrom the PD 36 by an amplifier (not shown), and performsanalog-to-digital (A/D) conversion on the amplified light-receivingsignal. The light-receiving signal processing circuit 40 outputs thelight-receiving signal digitized through the A/D conversion to theimaging device main body 18.

The imaging device 14 includes mounts 42 and 44. The mount 42 isprovided at the imaging device main body 18, and the mount 44 isprovided at the lens unit 16. The lens unit 16 is attached to theimaging device main body 18 so as to be replaceable by coupling themount 42 to the mount 44.

The lens unit 16 includes an imaging lens 50, a zoom lens 52, a zoomlens moving mechanism 54, and a motor 56.

Subject light which is reflected from the subject is incident on theimaging lens 50. The imaging lens 50 factors the subject light to pass,and guides the subject light to the zoom lens 52.

The zoom lens 52 is attached to the zoom lens moving mechanism 54 so asto slide along the optical axis. The motor 56 is connected to the zoomlens moving mechanism 54. The zoom lens moving mechanism 54 receives apower of the motor 56, and factors the zoom lens 52 to slide along anoptical axis direction.

The motor 56 is connected to the imaging device main body 18 through themounts 42 and 44, and the driving of the motor is controlled accordingto a command from the imaging device main body 18. In the presentembodiment, a stepping motor is used as an example of the motor 56.Accordingly, the motor 56 is operated in synchronization with a pulsedpower according to a command from the imaging device main body 18.

The imaging device main body 18 includes an imaging element 60, a maincontrol unit 62, an image memory 64, an image processing unit 66, adistance measurement control unit 68, motors 17 and 19, motor drivers21, 23, and 72, an imaging element driver 74, an image signal processingcircuit 76, and a display control unit 78. The imaging device main body18 includes a touch panel interface (I/F) 79, a reception I/F 80, and amedia I/F 82. The longitudinal rotation mechanism 13, the horizontalrotation mechanism 15, the motors 17 and 19, and the motor drivers 21and 23 are examples of a change unit according to the technology of thepresent disclosure. For example, the change unit according to thetechnology of the present disclosure means a mechanism capable ofchanging an emission angle β to be described below.

The main control unit 62, the image memory 64, the image processing unit66, the distance measurement control unit 68, the motor drivers 21, 23,and 72, the imaging element driver 74, the image signal processingcircuit 76, and the display control unit 78 are connected to a busline84. The touch panel I/F 79, the reception I/F 80, and the media I/F 82are also connected to the busline 84.

The imaging element 60 is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor(CMOS) type image sensor, and includes a color filter (not shown). Thecolor filter includes a G filter corresponding to green (G), an R filtercorresponding to red (R), and a B filter corresponding to blue (B) whichcontribute to the acquisition of a brightness signal. The imagingelement 60 includes a plurality of pixels (not shown) arranged in amatrix shape, and any filter of the R filter, the G filter, and the Bfilter included in the color filter is allocated to each pixel.

The subject light that passes through the zoom lens 52 is formed on animaging surface which is the light receiving surface of the imagingelement 60, and electric charges corresponding to the light receptionamount of the subject light are accumulated in the pixels of the imagingelement 60. The imaging element 60 outputs the charges accumulated inthe pixels, as image signals indicating an image corresponding to asubject image acquired by forming the subject light on the imagingsurface.

For example, the motor 17 is connected to the longitudinal rotationmechanism 13, and the longitudinal rotation mechanism 13 receives thepower of the motor 17 and rotates the hot shoe 20 in the longitudinaldirection. For example, the distance measurement unit 12 is rotated inthe direction of an arrow A, as shown in FIG. 2. The motor 19 isconnected to the horizontal rotation mechanism 15, and the horizontalrotation mechanism 15 receives the power of the motor 19 and rotates thehot shoe 20 in the horizontal direction. For example, the distancemeasurement unit 12 is rotated in the direction of an arrow B, as shownin FIG. 3.

The main control unit 62 controls the entire distance measurement device10A through the busline 84.

The motor driver 21 controls the motor 17 according to an instruction ofthe main control unit 62. The motor driver 23 controls the motor 19according to an instruction of the main control unit 62. The motors 17and 19 are examples of a power source according to the technology of thepresent disclosure.

The motor driver 72 is connected to the motor 56 through the mounts 42and 44, and controls the motor 56 according to an instruction of themain control unit 62.

In the present embodiment, a stepping motor is used as an example of themotors 17, 19, and 56. Accordingly, the motors 17, 19, and 56 areoperated in synchronization with a pulsed power according to a commandfrom the main control unit 62.

The imaging device 14 has an angle-of-view changing function. Theangle-of-view changing function is a function of changing an angle ofview on the subject by moving the zoom lens 52. In the presentembodiment, the angle-of-view changing function is realized by the zoomlens 52, the zoom lens moving mechanism 54, the motor 56, the motordriver 72, and the main control unit 62. Although it has been describedin the present embodiment that the optical angle-of-view changingfunction using the zoom lens 52 is used, the technology of the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto, and an electronic angle of viewchanging function without using the zoom lens 52 may be used.

The imaging element driver 74 is connected to the imaging element 60,and supplies drive pulses to the imaging element 60 under the control ofthe main control unit 62. The pixels of the imaging element 60 aredriven according to the drive pulses supplied by the imaging elementdriver 74.

The image signal processing circuit 76 is connected to the imagingelement 60, and reads image signals corresponding to one frame for everypixel out of the imaging element 60 under the control of the maincontrol unit 62. The image signal processing circuit 76 performs variousprocessing tasks such as correlative double sampling processing,automatic gain adjustment, and A/D conversion on the readout imagesignals. The image signal processing circuit 76 outputs image signalsdigitized by performing various processing tasks on the image signalsfor every frame to the image memory 64 at a specific frame rate (forexample, tens of frames/second) prescribed by an analog signal suppliedfrom the main control unit 62. The image memory 64 provisionally retainsthe image signals input from the image signal processing circuit 76.

The imaging device main body 18 includes a display unit 86, a touchpanel 88, a reception device 90, and a memory card 92.

An alarm unit and the display unit 86 which is an example of a firstdisplay unit, a second display unit, a third display unit, a firstnotification unit, and a second notification unit according to thetechnology of the present disclosure are connected to the displaycontrol unit 78, and display various information items under the controlof the display control unit 78. The display unit 86 is realized by aliquid crystal display (LCD), for example.

The touch panel 88 is layered on a display screen of the display unit86, and senses touch using a pointer such as a finger of the user and/ora touch pen. The touch panel 88 is connected to the touch panel I/F 79,and outputs positional information indicating a position touched by thepointer to the touch panel I/F 79. The touch panel I/F 79 activates thetouch panel 88 according to an instruction of the main control unit 62,and outputs the positional information input from the touch panel 88 tothe main control unit 62.

The reception device 90 includes an actual measurement and actualimaging button 90A, a provisional measurement and provisional imagingbutton 90B, an imaging system operation mode switching button 90C, awide angle instruction button 90D, a telephoto instruction button 90E,and an irradiation position adjustment button 90F, and receives variousinstructions from the user. The reception device 90 is connected to thereception I/F 80, and the reception I/F 80 outputs an instructioncontent signal indicating the content of the instruction received by thereception device 90 to the main control unit 62.

The actual measurement and actual imaging button 90A is a pressing typebutton that receives an instruction to start the actual measurement andthe actual imaging. The provisional measurement and provisional imagingbutton 90B is a pressing type button that receives an instruction tostart the provisional measurement and the provisional imaging. Theimaging system operation mode switching button 90C is a pressing typebutton that receives an instruction to switch between the still imageimaging mode and the video imaging mode.

The wide angle instruction button 90D is a pressing type button thatreceives an instruction to change the angle of view to a wide angle, anda degree of the angle of view changed to the wide angle is determined inan allowable range depending on a pressing time during which the wideangle instruction button 90D is continuously pressed.

The telephoto instruction button 90E is a pressing type button thatreceives an instruction to change the angle of view to an angle of atelephoto lens, and a degree of the angle of view changed to the angleof the telephoto lens is determined in an allowable range depending on apressing time during which the telephoto instruction button 90E iscontinuously pressed.

The irradiation position adjustment button 90F is a pressing type buttonthat receives an instruction to adjust an in-image irradiation position.In a case where the irradiation position adjustment button 90F ispressed, an irradiation position adjustment process (see FIG. 23) to bedescribed below is started to be performed.

Hereinafter, the actual measurement and actual imaging button and theprovisional measurement and provisional imaging button are referred toas a “release button” for the sake of convenience in description in acase where it is not necessary to distinguish between the actualmeasurement and actual imaging button 90A and the provisionalmeasurement and provisional imaging button 90B. Hereinafter, the wideangle instruction button and the telephoto instruction button arereferred to as an “angle-of-view instruction button” for the sake ofconvenience in description in a case where it is not necessary todistinguish between the wide angle instruction button 90D and thetelephoto instruction button 90E.

In the distance measurement device 10A according to the firstembodiment, a manual focus mode and an auto focus mode are selectivelyset according to an instruction of the user through the reception device90 in the still image imaging mode.

In the auto focus mode, the release button which is an example of areception unit according to the technology of the present disclosurereceives two-step pressing operations including an imaging preparationinstruction state and an imaging instruction state. For example, theimaging preparation instruction state refers to a state in which therelease button is pressed down from a waiting position to anintermediate position (half pressed position), and the imaginginstruction state refers to a state in which the release button ispressed down to a finally pressed-down position (fully pressed position)beyond the intermediate position.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience in description, a “state inwhich the release button is pressed down from the waiting position tothe half pressed position” is referred to as a “half pressed state”, anda “state in which the release button is pressed down from the waitingposition to the fully pressed position” is referred to as a “fullypressed state”.

In the auto focus mode, after an imaging condition is adjusted bysetting the release button to be in the half pressed state, actualexposing is subsequently performed by setting the release button to bein the fully pressed state. That is, in a case where the release buttonis set to be in the half pressed state before the actual exposing isperformed, an automatic exposure (AE) function, and thus, exposure isadjusted. Thereafter, a focus is adjusted by performing auto-focus (AF)function, and the actual exposing is performed in a case where therelease button is set to be in the fully pressed state.

In this example, the actual exposing refers to exposing performed inorder to acquire a still image file to be described below. In thepresent embodiment, the exposing means exposing performed in order toacquire a live view image to be described below and exposition performedin order to acquire a motion picture image file to be described below inaddition to the actual exposing. Hereinafter, for the sake ofconvenience in description, the exposing is simply referred to as“exposing” in a case where it is not necessary to distinguish betweenthese exposing tasks.

In the present embodiment, the main control unit 62 which is an exampleof a performing unit according to the technology of the presentdisclosure performs the exposure adjustment using the AE function andthe focus adjustment using the AF function. Although it has beendescribed in the present embodiment that the exposure adjustment and thefocus adjustment are performed by the main control unit 62, thetechnology of the present disclosure is not limited to thereto, and theexposure adjustment or the focus adjustment may not be performed by themain control unit 62.

The image processing unit 66 acquires image signals for every frame fromthe image memory 64 at a specific frame rate, and performs variousprocessing tasks such as gamma correction, luminance and colordifference conversion, and compression processing on the acquired imagesignals.

The image processing unit 66 outputs the image signals acquired byperforming various processing tasks to the display control unit 78 forevery frame at a specific frame rate. The image processing unit 66outputs the image signals acquired by performing various processingtasks to the main control unit 62 according to a request of the maincontrol unit 62.

The display control unit 78 outputs the image signals input from theimage processing unit 66 to the display unit 86 for every frame at aspecific frame rate under the control of the main control unit 62.

The display unit 86 displays image and character information. Thedisplay unit 86 displays the image indicated by the image signals inputfrom the display control unit 78 at a specific frame rate, as a liveview image. As the live view image, a plurality of images acquired byperforming continuous imaging by the imaging device 14 in a sequence oftime, that is, continuous frame images acquired by performing imaging incontinuous frames is acquired, and the live view image is referred to asa live preview image. The display unit 86 also displays the still imagewhich is a single frame image captured in a single frame. The displayunit 86 also displays a playback image and/or a menu screen in additionto the live view image.

Although the image processing unit 66 and the display control unit 78are realized by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in thepresent embodiment, the technology of the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, the image processing unit 66 and thedisplay control unit 78 may be realized by a field-programmable gatearray (FPGA). The image processing unit 66 may be realized by a computerincluding a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), anda random access memory (RAM). The display control unit 78 may also berealized by a computer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The imageprocessing unit 66 and the display control unit 78 may be realized bycombining of a hardware configuration and a software configuration.

In a case where an instruction to image the still image is received bythe release button in the still image imaging mode, the main controlunit 62 factors the imaging element 60 to expose one frame bycontrolling the imaging element driver 74. The main control unit 62acquires the image signals acquired by exposing one frame from the imageprocessing unit 66, and generates the still image file having a specificstill image format by performing a compression process on the acquiredimage signals. For example, the specific still image format refers tothe Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG).

In a case where an instruction to image the motion picture is receivedby the release button in the video imaging mode, the main control unit62 acquire the image signals output to the display control unit 78 inorder to be used as the live view image, by the image processing unit 66for every frame at a specific frame rate. The main control unit 62generates a motion picture file having a specific motion picture formatby performing the compression process on the image signals acquired fromthe image processing unit 66. For example, the specific motion pictureformat refers to the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). Hereinafter,the still image file and the motion picture file are referred to as theimage file for the sake of convenience in description in a case where itis not necessary to distinguish between the still image file and themotion picture file.

The media I/F 82 is connected to the memory card 92, and records andreads the image file in and out of the memory card 92 under the controlof the main control unit 62. The main control unit 62 performs adecompression process on the image file read out of the memory card 92by the media I/F 82, and displays the decompressed image file as aplayback image on the display unit 86.

The main control unit 62 stores distance measurement informationincluding at least one of distance information input from the distancemeasurement control unit 68 or dimension information indicating adimension derived by utilizing a dimension deriving function to bedescribed below in association with the image file in the memory card 92through the media I/F 82. The distance measurement information togetherwith the image file is read out of the memory card 92 by the maincontrol unit 62 through the media I/F 82. In a case where the distanceinformation is included in the distance measurement information read outby the main control unit 62, the distance indicated by the distanceinformation together with the playback image which is the associatedimage file is displayed on the display unit 86. In a case where thedimension information is included in the distance measurementinformation read out by the main control unit 62, the dimensionindicated by the dimension information together with the playback imagewhich is the associated image file is displayed on the display unit 86.

The distance measurement control unit 68 controls the distancemeasurement unit 12 under the control of the main control unit 62. Inthe present embodiment, the distance measurement control unit 68 isrealized by ASIC, but the technology of the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, the distance measurement control unit 68may be realized by FPGA. The distance measurement control unit 68 may berealized by a computer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The distancemeasurement control unit 68 may be realized by the combination of thehardware configuration and the software configuration.

The hot shoe 20 is connected to the busline 84. Under the control of themain control unit 62, the distance measurement control unit 68 controlsthe emission of the laser beam from the LD 30 by controlling the LDdriver 34, and acquires light-receiving signal from the light-receivingsignal processing circuit 40. The distance measurement control unit 68derives a distance to the subject based on a timing when the laser beamis emitted and a timing when the light-receiving signal is acquired, andoutputs distance information indicating the derived distance to the maincontrol unit 62.

The measurement of the distance to the subject using the distancemeasurement control unit 68 will be described in more detail.

For example, one measurement sequence using the distance measurementdevice 10A is prescribed by a voltage adjustment period, an actualmeasurement period, and a suspension period, as shown in FIG. 5.

The voltage adjustment period is a period during which driving voltagesof the LD 30 and the PD 36 are adjusted. The actual measurement periodis a period during which the distance to the subject is actuallymeasured. For the actual measurement period, an operation for causingthe LD 30 to emit the laser beam and causing the PD 36 to receive thereflection laser beam hundreds of times is repeated several hundreds oftimes, and the distance to the subject is derived based on the timingwhen the laser beam is emitted and the timing when the light-receivingsignal is acquired. The suspension period is a period during which thedriving of the LD 30 and the PD 36 is suspended. Thus, in onemeasurement sequence, the measurement of the distance to the subject isperformed hundreds of times.

In the present embodiment, each of the voltage adjustment period, theactual measurement period, and the suspension period is hundreds ofmilliseconds.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, count signals that prescribes a timingwhen the distance measurement control unit 68 outputs an instruction toemit the laser beam and a timing when the distance measurement controlunit 68 acquires the light-receiving signal are supplied to the distancemeasurement control unit 68. In the present embodiment, the countsignals are generated by the main control unit 62 and are supplied tothe distance measurement control unit 68, but the present embodiment isnot limited thereto. The count signals may be generated by a dedicatedcircuit such as a time counter connected to the busline 84, and may besupplied to the distance measurement control unit 68.

The distance measurement control unit 68 outputs a laser trigger foremitting the laser beam to the LD driver 34 in response to the countsignal. The LD driver 34 drives the LD 30 to emit the laser beam inresponse to the laser trigger.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, a time during which the laser beam isemitted is tens of nanoseconds. A time during which the laser beamemitted to the subject far away from the emission unit 22 by severalkilometers is received as the reflection laser beam by the PD 36 is“several kilometers×2/light speed”=several microseconds. Accordingly,for example, it takes a time of several microseconds as a minimumnecessary time to measure the distance to the subject far away byseveral kilometers, as shown in FIG. 5.

In the present embodiment, for example, although a time during which themeasurement is performed once is several milliseconds with considerationfor a time during which the laser beam travels in a reciprocating motionas shown in FIG. 5, since the time during which the laser beam travelsin the reciprocating motion varies depending on the distance to thesubject, the measurement time per one time may varies depending on anassumed distance.

For example, in a case where the distance to the subject is derivedbased on the measurement values acquired through the measurementperformed several hundreds of times in one measurement sequence, thedistance measurement control unit 68 derives the distance to the subjectby analyzing a histogram of the measurement values acquired through themeasurement performed several hundreds of times.

For example, in the histogram of the measurement values acquired throughthe measurement performed several hundreds of times in one measurementsequence as shown in FIG. 7, a lateral axis represents the distance tothe subject, and a longitudinal axis is the number of times themeasurement is performed. The distance corresponding to the maximumvalue of the number of times the measurement is performed is derived asthe distance measurement result by the distance measurement control unit68. The histogram shown in FIG. 7 is merely an example, and thehistogram may be generated based on the time during which the laser beamtravels in the reciprocating motion (an elapsed time from when the laserbeam is emitted to when the laser beam is received) and/or ½ of the timeduring which the laser beam travels in the reciprocating motion insteadof the distance to the subject.

For example, the main control unit 62 includes the CPU 100 which is anexample of a deriving unit and a control unit according to thetechnology of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 8. The maincontrol unit 62 includes a primary storage unit 102 and a secondarystorage unit 104. The CPU 100 controls the entire distance measurementdevice 10A. The primary storage unit 102 is a volatile memory used as awork area when various programs are executed. A RAM is used as anexample of the primary storage unit 102. The secondary storage unit 104is a non-volatile memory that previously stores various parametersand/or control programs for controlling the activation of the distancemeasurement device 10A. Electrically erasable programmable read onlymemory (EEPROM) and/or a flash memory are used as an example of thesecondary storage unit 104. The CPU 100, the primary storage unit 102,and the secondary storage unit 104 are connected to each other throughthe busline 84.

Incidentally, the distance measurement device 10A has the dimensionderiving function. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the dimensionderiving function refers to a function of deriving a length L of aregion in a real space included in the subject based on addresses u1 andu2 of the designated pixels and a distance D measured by the distancemeasurement device 10A or deriving an area based on the length L. Forexample, the “designated pixels” refer to pixels of the imaging element60 corresponding to two points designated by the user on the live viewimage. For example, the length L is derived from the followingExpression (1). In Expression (1), p is a pitch between pixels includedin the imaging element 60, u1 and u2 are addresses of the pixelsdesignated by the user, and f is a focal length of the imaging lens 50.

[Expression  1]                                     $\begin{matrix}{L = {D \times \left\{ \frac{p\left( {{u\; 1} - {u\; 2}} \right)}{f} \right\}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

Expression (1) is an expression used on the assumption that a target asa dimension deriving target is captured in a state in which the targetfaces the imaging lens 50 in front view. Accordingly, for example, in acase where the subject including the target as the dimension derivingtarget is captured in a state in which the target does not face theimaging lens 50 in front view, a projection conversion process isperformed. For example, the projection conversion process refers to aprocess of converting the captured image acquired through the imagingand/or an image of a square portion of the captured image into a facingview image based on the square image included in the captured image byusing the known technology such as affine transformation. The facingview image refers to an image in a state in the subject faces theimaging lens 50 in front view. The addresses u1 and u2 of the pixels ofthe imaging element 60 are designated through the facing view image, andthe length L is derived from Expression (1).

As stated above, it is preferable that an in-image irradiation positionis derived with high accuracy and is ascertained together with thedistance by the user in order to accurately derive the length L of theregion in the real space based on the addresses u1 and u2. The reason isthat the derived length L is completely different from the actual lengthin a case where it is assumed that the in-image irradiation position andthe irradiation position of the laser beam in the real space arepositions on planes of which orientations and positions are different.

In a case where a colored laser beam of which an irradiation position isable to be visually perceived within a distance of about several metersfrom the distance measurement device 10A is used as the laser beam, thein-image irradiation position may be visually specified and designatedfrom the captured image depending on a diameter and/or intensity of thelaser beam. However, for example, in a case where a structure separatedfrom a building site by several tens of meters or several hundreds ofmeters is irradiated with the laser beam in daytime, it is difficult tovisually specify the in-image irradiation position from the capturedimage. A method of specifying the in-image irradiation position from adifference between a plurality of captured images acquired in a sequenceof time is also considered. However, in a case where the structureseparated from the building site by several tens of meters or severalhundreds of meters is irradiated with the laser beam, it is difficult tospecify the in-image irradiation position. In a case where the in-imageirradiation position is not able to be specified, the user performs thedistance measurement while the user does not recognize whether or notthe subject assumed as the distance measurement target is irradiatedwith the laser beam.

For example, in the distance measurement device 10A, the secondarystorage unit 104 stores a distance measurement program 106 and anirradiation position adjustment program 107, as shown in FIG. 8. Theirradiation position adjustment program 107 is an example of a distancemeasurement control program according to the technology of the presentdisclosure.

For example, the CPU 100 is operated as a deriving unit 100A shown inFIG. 10 by reading the distance measurement program 106 out of thesecondary storage unit 104, loading the readout distance measurementprogram into the primary storage unit 102, and executing the distancemeasurement program 106.

The deriving unit 100A acquires the correspondence relation between anin-provisional-image irradiation position and a distance which areprovisionally measured by the distance measurement unit 12 and thedistance measurement control unit 68 by using the laser beamcorresponding to the in-provisional-image irradiation position. Thederiving unit 100A derives an in-actual-image irradiation position,which corresponds to the irradiation position of the laser beam used inthe actual measurement using the distance measurement unit 12 and thedistance measurement control unit 68, within the actual image acquiredby performing the actual imaging by the imaging device 14 based on theacquired correspondence relation. The in-provisional-image irradiationposition refers to a position, which corresponds to the irradiationposition of the laser beam onto the subject, within a provisional imageacquired by performing the provisional imaging on the subject by theimaging device 14 whenever each of a plurality of distances isprovisionally measured by the distance measurement unit 12 and thedistance measurement control unit 68.

In the present embodiment, the irradiation-position pixel coordinates ofthe in-actual-image irradiation position, the in-provisional-imageirradiation position, and an in-live-view-image irradiation position arederived by the CPU 100, and the in-image irradiation position isspecified from the derived irradiation-position pixel coordinates.Hereinafter, the in-actual-image irradiation position, thein-provisional-image irradiation position, and the in-live-view-imageirradiation position are simply referred to as the “in-image irradiationposition” in a case where it is not necessary to distinguish between thein-actual-image irradiation position and the in-provisional-imageirradiation position for the sake of convenience in description.

The in-live-view-image irradiation position means a position, whichcorresponds to the irradiation position of the laser beam used in themeasurement, within the live view image acquired through the imagingusing the imaging device 14. The in-live-view-image irradiation positionis an example of the in-image irradiation position according to thepresent invention, and is derived by the same deriving method as thederiving method of the in-actual-image irradiation position describedabove.

For example, the CPU 100 is operated as the deriving unit 100A and acontrol unit 100B shown in FIG. 10 by reading the irradiation positionadjustment program 107 out of the secondary storage unit 104, loadingthe readout irradiation position adjustment program into the primarystorage unit 102, and executing the irradiation position adjustmentprogram 107.

The deriving unit 100A derives the in-live-view-image irradiationposition based on the distance measured by the distance measurement unit12 and the distance measurement control unit 68 and an emission angle βto be described below.

In a case where the derived in-live-view-image irradiation position isout of a default range within the live view image, the control unit 100Bperforms predetermined control until the in-live-view-image irradiationposition falls in the default range. The predetermined control meanscontrol for causing the distance measurement unit 12 and the distancemeasurement control unit 68 to measure the distance and causing thederiving unit 100A to derive the in-live-view-image irradiation positionbased on the distance measured by the distance measurement unit 12 andthe distance measurement control unit 68 and the emission angle β.

Next, the actions of the distance measurement device 10A will bedescribed.

Initially, a distance measurement process realized by executing thedistance measurement program 106 in the CPU 100 in a case where a powerswitch of the distance measurement device 10A is turned on will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. Hereinafter, a case wherethe live view image is displayed on the display unit 86 will bedescribed for the sake of convenience in description. Hereinafter, theirradiation position of the laser beam onto the subject in the realspace is referred to as a “real-space irradiation position” for the sakeof convenience in description.

Although it will be described below that an in-image irradiationposition in an X direction which is a front-view left-right directionfor the imaging surface of the imaging element 60 included in theimaging device 14 is derived for the sake of convenience in description,an in-image irradiation position in a Y direction which is a front-viewupper-lower direction for the imaging surface of the imaging element 60included in the imaging device 14 is similarly derived. As mentionedabove, the in-image irradiation positions ultimately output by derivingthe in-image irradiation positions in the X direction and the Ydirection are expressed by two-dimensional coordinates.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience in description, the front-viewleft-right direction for the imaging surface of the imaging element 60included in the imaging device 14 is referred to as the “X direction” ora “row direction”, and the front-view upper-lower direction for theimaging surface of the imaging element 60 included in the imaging device14 is referred to as the “Y direction” or a “column direction”.

In the distance measurement process shown in FIG. 11, the deriving unit100A initially determines whether or not a parameter changing factoroccurs in step 200. The parameter changing factor refers to a factor forchanging parameters that influence the in-image irradiation position.

In the present embodiment, the parameters refer to a half angle of viewα, an emission angle β, and a inter-reference-point distance d, as shownin FIG. 15. The half angle of view α refers to half of the angle of viewon the subject captured by the imaging device 14. The emission angle βrefers to an angle at which the laser beam is emitted from the emissionunit 22. The inter-reference-point distance d refers to a distancebetween a first reference point P1 prescribed for the imaging device 14and a second base reference point P2 prescribed for the distancemeasurement unit 12. A main point of the imaging lens 50 is used as anexample of the first reference point P1. A point previously set as anorigin of coordinates capable of specifying a position of the distancemeasurement unit 12 in a three dimensional space is used as an exampleof the second reference point P2. Specifically, an end of front-viewleft and right ends of the object lens 38 or one vertex of a housing(not shown) of the distance measurement unit 12 in a case where thehousing has a cuboid shape.

In the present embodiment, the parameter changing factor refers to, forexample, replacement of the lens, the replacement of the distancemeasurement unit, a change in the angle of view, and a change in theemission direction. Thus, the determination result is positive in a casewhere at least one of the replacement of the lens, the replacement ofthe distance measurement unit, the change in the angle of view, and thechange in the emission direction occurs in step 200.

The replacement of the lens refers to the replacement of only theimaging lens 50 of the lens unit 16 and the replacement of the lens unit16 itself. The replacement of the distance measurement unit refers tothe replacement of only the object lens 32 of the distance measurementunit 12, the replacement of only the object lens 38 of the distancemeasurement unit 12, and the replacement of the distance measurementunit 12 itself. The change in the angle of view refers to a change inthe angle of view by the movement of the zoom lens 52 by pressing theangle-of-view instruction button. The change in the emission directionrefers to a change in the direction in which the laser beam is emittedby the emission unit 22.

In a case where the parameter changing factor occurs in step 200, thedetermination result is positive, and the process proceeds to step 202.

For example, in step 202, the deriving unit 100A displays a firstintention check screen 110 on the display unit 86 as shown in FIG. 16.Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 204.

The first intention check screen 110 is a screen for checking the user'sintention of whether or not to display an irradiation position mark 116(see FIG. 20) which is a mark indicating the in-actual-image irradiationposition in a specifiable manner within a display region of the actualimage. In the example shown in FIG. 16, a message of “do you display theirradiation position mark?” is displayed on the first intention checkscreen 110. In the example shown in FIG. 16, a soft key of “yes”designated for announcing an intention to display the irradiationposition mark 116 and a soft key of “no” designated for announcing anintention not to display the irradiation position mark 116 are alsodisplayed on the first intention check screen 110.

In step 204, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not to displaythe irradiation position mark 116. In a case where the irradiationposition mark 116 is displayed in step 204, that is, in a case where thesoft key of “yes” of the first intention check screen 110 is pressedthrough the touch panel 88, the determination result is positive, andthe process proceeds to step 208. In a case where the irradiationposition mark 116 is not displayed in step 204, that is, in a case wherethe soft key of “no” of the first intention check screen 110 is pressedthrough the touch panel 88, the determination result is negative, andthe process proceeds to step 290 shown in FIG. 12.

In step 290 shown in FIG. 12, the deriving unit 100A determines whetheror not the actual measurement and actual imaging button 90A is turnedon. In a case where the actual measurement and actual imaging button 90Ais turned on in step 290, the determination result is positive, and theprocess proceeds to step 292.

In step 292, the deriving unit 100A performs the actual measurement bycontrolling the distance measurement control unit 68. The deriving unit100A performs the actual imaging by controlling the imaging elementdriver 74 and the image signal processing circuit 76. Thereafter, theprocess proceeds to step 294.

In step 294, the deriving unit 100A displays the actual image which isthe image acquired by performing the actual imaging and the distanceacquired by performing the actual measurement on the display unit 86.Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 200 shown in FIG. 11.

Meanwhile, in a case where the actual measurement and actual imagingbutton 90A is not turned on in step 290, the determination result isnegative, and the process proceeds to step 296.

In step 296, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not an endcondition which is a condition in which the actual distance measurementprocess is ended is satisfied. For example, in the present distancemeasurement process, the end condition refers to a condition in which aninstruction to end the actual distance measurement process is receivedthrough the touch panel 88 and/or a condition in which a predeterminedtime (for example, one minute) elapses after the determination result instep 290 is negative.

In a case where the end condition is not satisfied in step 296, thedetermination result is negative, and the process proceeds to step 290.In a case where the end condition is satisfied in step 296, thedetermination result is positive, and the actual distance measurementprocess is ended.

Meanwhile, for example, the deriving unit 100A displays a provisionalmeasurement and provisional imaging guide screen 112 on the display unit86 as shown in FIG. 17 in step 208 shown in FIG. 11. Thereafter, theprocess proceeds to step 210.

In the actual distance measurement process, the process is performed inany operation mode of a first operation mode in which the provisionalmeasurement and provisional imaging is performed and a second operationmode which is an operation mode other than the first operation mode. Inother words, the operation mode other than the first operation modemeans an operation mode different from the first operation mode, andrefers to an operation mode in which the provisional measurement and theprovisional imaging are not performed. In step 208, transition from thesecond operation mode to the first operation mode is displayed to theuser by displaying the provisional measurement and provisional imagingguide screen 112. In the present embodiment, the processes of step 208to 226 correspond to the process of the first operation mode, and theprocesses of the steps other than step 208 to 226 correspond to theprocess of the second operation mode.

The provisional measurement and provisional imaging guide screen 112 isa screen for guiding the user information indicating that theprovisional measurement and the provisional imaging are performedmultiple times (for example, three times in the present embodiment)while changing the emission direction of the laser beam. In the exampleshown in FIG. 17, a message of “please, perform the provisionalmeasurement and provisional imaging three times while changing theemission direction of the laser beam” is displayed on the provisionalmeasurement and provisional imaging guide screen 112.

In step 210, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not theprovisional measurement and provisional imaging button 90B is turned on.In a case where the provisional measurement and provisional imagingbutton 90B is not turned on in step 210, the determination result isnegative, and the process proceeds to step 212. In a case where theprovisional measurement and provisional imaging button 90B is turned onin step 210, the determination result is positive, and the processproceeds to step 214.

In step 212, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not the endcondition is satisfied. In a case where the end condition is notsatisfied in step 212, the determination result is negative, and theprocess proceeds to step 210. In a case where the end condition issatisfied in step 212, the determination result is positive, and theactual distance measurement process is ended.

In step 214, the deriving unit 100A performs the provisional measurementby controlling the distance measurement control unit 68. The derivingunit 100A performs the provisional imaging by controlling the imagingelement driver 74 and the image signal processing circuit 76.Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 216.

In step 216, the deriving unit 100A stores the provisional image whichis the image acquired by performing the provisional imaging and thedistance acquired by performing the provisional measurement in theprimary storage unit 102. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 218.

In step 218, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not theprovisional measurement and the provisional imaging are performed threetimes by determining whether or not the provisional measurement andprovisional imaging button 90B is turned on three times. In a case wherethe provisional measurement and the provisional imaging are notperformed three times in step 218, the determination result is negative,and the process proceeds to step 210. In a case where the provisionalmeasurement and the provisional imaging are performed three times instep 218, the determination result is positive, and the process proceedsto step 220.

Subsequently, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the relation betweena plurality of provisionally measured distances (for example, threedistances) is not a predetermined relation satisfying that thesedistances do not effectively contribute to the construction (generation)of the correspondence information to be described below used in thederiving of the in-actual-image irradiation position. That is, in step220, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not the threedistances stored in the primary storage unit 102 in step 216 areeffective distances. The effective distances refer to distances havingthe relation satisfying that the three distances stored in the primarystorage unit 102 effectively contribute to the construction (generation)of correspondence information to be described below in the deriving ofthe in-actual-image irradiation position. For example, the relationsatisfying that distances effectively contribute to the construction ofthe correspondence information to be described below in the deriving ofthe in-actual-image irradiation position means a relation satisfyingthat the three distances are separated from each other by apredetermined distance or more (for example, 0.3 meters or more).

In a case where three distances stored in the primary storage unit 102in step 216 are not effective distances in step 220, the determinationresult is negative, and the process proceeds to step 222. In a casewhere the three distances stored in the primary storage unit 102 in step216 are effective distances in step 220, the determination result ispositive, and the process proceeds to step 224.

For example, in step 222, the deriving unit 100A displays are-performing guide screen 114 on the display unit 86 as shown in FIG.18. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 210.

The re-performing guide screen 114 is a screen for guiding the user there-performing of the provisional measurement and the provisionalimaging. In the example shown in FIG. 18, a message of “effectivedistances are not able to be measured. please, perform the provisionalmeasurement and provisional imaging three times while changing theemission direction of the laser beam” is displayed on the re-performingguide screen 114.

In step 224, the deriving unit 100A specifies the in-provisional-imageirradiation position for every provisional image stored in the primarystorage unit 102 in step 216. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step226. For example, the in-provisional-image irradiation position isspecified from a difference between the image acquired before theprovisional measurement and the provisional imaging are performed (forexample, previous frame) in the live view image and the provisionalimage acquired by performing the provisional imaging. The user canvisually recognize the irradiation position of the laser beam from theprovisional image in a case where the distance at which the provisionalmeasurement is about several meters. In this case, the irradiationposition visually recognized from the provisional image may bedesignated by the user through the touch panel 88, and the designatedposition may be specified as the in-provisional-image irradiationposition.

In step 226, the deriving unit 100A generates correspondence informationwhich is an example of the above-described correspondence relation, andstores the generated correspondence information in the secondary storageunit 104 for every parameter changing factor. Thereafter, the processproceeds to step 228 shown in FIG. 13.

The correspondence information refers to information acquired byassociating the in-provisional-image irradiation position with thedistance of the distances stored in the primary storage unit 102 in step216 which corresponds to the provisional image related to thein-provisional-image irradiation position for each in-provisional-imageirradiation position specified in step 224.

For example, in the present embodiment, the correspondence informationis stored as a correspondence table 98 in the secondary storage unit104, as shown in FIG. 14. The correspondence table 98 is updated bystoring the generated correspondence information whenever thecorrespondence information is generated in step 226. In thecorrespondence table 98, the correspondence information is associatedwith the parameter changing factor of which the occurrence is determinedthe in step 200. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the replacement of thelens, the replacement of the distance measurement unit, the change inthe angle of view, and the change in the emission direction are used asan example of the parameter changing factor. (1), (2), and (3) shown inFIG. 14 are identification codes for identifying that these factors areparameter changing factors occurring in different timings.

Although three correspondence information items are associated with eachof the replacement of the lens, the replacement of the distancemeasurement unit, and the change in the emission direction in theexample shown in FIG. 14, the technology of the present disclosure isnot limited thereto. For example, in a case where the parameter changingfactor occurs once, the correspondence information items acquired byperforming the provisional measurement and the provisional imagingmultiple times for the parameter changing factor occurring once areassociated with one parameter changing factor. For example, in a casewhere the provisional measurement and the provisional imaging areperformed two times for the parameter changing factor occurring once,two correspondence information items are associated with one parameterchanging factor.

In step 228, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not the actualmeasurement and actual imaging button 90A is turned on. In a case wherethe actual measurement and actual imaging button 90A is turned on instep 228, the determination result is positive, and the process proceedsto step 230. In a case where the actual measurement and actual imagingbutton 90A is not turned on in step 228, the determination result isnegative, and the process proceeds to step 244.

In step 230, the deriving unit 100A performs the actual measurement bycontrolling the distance measurement control unit 68. The deriving unit100A performs the actual imaging by controlling the imaging elementdriver 74 and the image signal processing circuit 76. Thereafter, theprocess proceeds to step 232.

In step 232, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not specificcorrespondence information is stored in the correspondence table 98. Thespecific correspondence information refers to the correspondenceinformation of the correspondence information items acquired in the pastwhich corresponds to the distance acquired by performing the actualmeasurement through the process in step 230.

For example, the correspondence information items acquired in the pastrefer to the correspondence information items which are associated withthe corresponding parameter changing factor and are stored in thecorrespondence table 98. For example, the correspondence informationcorresponding to the distance acquired by performing the actualmeasurement refers to the correspondence information associated with adistance matching the distance which is acquired by performing theactual measurement within a predetermined error. For example, thepredetermined error is a fixed value of ±0.1 meters, and the technologyof the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The predeterminederror may be a variable value changed according to an instruction of theuser through the touch panel 88.

In a case where the specific correspondence information is not stored inthe correspondence table 98 in step 232, the determination result isnegative, and the process proceeds to step 234. In a case where thespecific correspondence information is stored in the correspondencetable 98 in step 232, the determination result is positive, and theprocess proceeds to step 236.

In step 234, the deriving unit 100A derives the parameter based on thelatest correspondence information of the correspondence informationitems which are related to the corresponding parameter changing factorand are stored in the correspondence table 98, and associates thederived parameter with the latest correspondence information.Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 238. For example, the “latestcorrespondence information” refers to the correspondence informationgenerated lately in step 226. The parameter derived in step 234 is anuncertain parameter in a current point of time, and varies for everyparameter changing factor as represented in the following Table 1.

TABLE 1 parameter changing factor parameter replacement of lens halfangle of view α, emission angle β replacement of distance emission angleβ, inter-reference-point measurement unit distance d change in angle ofview half angle of view α change in emission direction emission angle β

The number of uncertain parameters may be one to three. For example, inthe example shown in Table 1, in a case where both the replacement ofthe distance measurement unit and the change in the angle of view areperformed, the number of uncertain parameters is three such as the halfangle of view α, the emission angle β, and the inter-reference-pointdistance d. In a case where only the replacement of the lens isperformed, the number of uncertain parameters is two such as the halfangle of view α and the emission angle β. In a case where only thereplacement of the distance measurement unit is performed, the number ofuncertain parameters is two such as the emission angle β, and theinter-reference-point distance d. In a case where only the change in theangle of view is performed, the number of uncertain parameters is onesuch as the half angle of view α. In a case where only the change in theemission direction is performed, the number of uncertain parameters isone such as the emission angle β.

For example, the parameters are derived from the following Expressions(2) to (4) in step 234. In Expressions (2) and (3), a distance D is adistance specified from the latest correspondence information, anddistances specified from the latest correspondence information aredistances D₁, D₂, and D₃ in a case where the latest correspondenceinformation is the correspondence information related to the change inthe angle of view (1) in the example shown in FIG. 14. In Expression(4), “row-direction pixels of the irradiation positions” are in-imageirradiation positions in a row direction, and “half of the number ofrow-direction pixels” is half of the number of pixels in the rowdirection in the imaging element 60. For example, in the presentembodiment, the half angle of view α is derived from the followingExpression (5). In Expression (5), “f” is a focal length. For example,it is preferable that the focal length f substituted into Expression (5)is a focal length used in the actual imaging of step 230.

[Expression  2]                                     $\begin{matrix}{{{\Delta \; x} = {d - {D\mspace{14mu} \cos \mspace{14mu} {\beta \left\lbrack {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 3} \right\rbrack}}}}\mspace{551mu}} & (2) \\{{X = {D\mspace{14mu} \sin \mspace{14mu} \beta \mspace{14mu} \tan \mspace{14mu} {\alpha \left\lbrack {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 4} \right\rbrack}}}\mspace{571mu}} & (3) \\{{{\left( {{row}\text{-}{direction}\mspace{14mu} {pixel}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {irradiation}\mspace{14mu} {position}} \right)\text{:}\left( {{half}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {number}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {row}\text{-}{direction}\mspace{14mu} {pixels}} \right)} = {\Delta \; x\text{:}{X\left\lbrack {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 5} \right\rbrack}}}\mspace{590mu}} & (4) \\{\alpha = {{atan}\left\{ \frac{\left( {{dimension}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {imaging}\mspace{14mu} {pixel}} \right)}{2 \times f} \right\}}} & (5)\end{matrix}$

In step 234, the in-provisional-image irradiation positions specifiedfrom the latest correspondence information of the correspondenceinformation items stored in the correspondence table 98 are the“row-direction pixels of the irradiation positions”. In the exampleshown in FIG. 14, in a case where the latest correspondence informationis the correspondence information related to the change in the angle ofview (1), the in-provisional-image irradiation positions specified fromthe latest correspondence information are X₁, X₂, and X₃. The distancespecified from the latest correspondence information of thecorrespondence information items stored in the correspondence table 98are used as the distance D in Expressions (2) and (3) for everycorresponding in-provisional-image irradiation position (corresponding“row-direction pixel of the irradiation position”). The parameterclosest to each of the “row-direction pixels of the irradiationpositions” is derived by the deriving unit 100A.

Now, an example in which a part of the correspondence table 98 shown inFIG. 14 is used in the deriving method of the parameter will bedescribed. For example, in a case where the correspondence informationitems related to the change in the angle of view (1) and the replacementof the distance measurement unit (1) which are examples of the parameterchanging factor are used as the latest correspondence information items,the latest correspondence information items are distances D₁, D₂, D₃,D₁₆, D₁₇, and D₁₈ and the in-provisional-image irradiation positions X₁,X₂, X₃, X₁₆, X₁₇, and X₁₈.

The in-provisional-image irradiation position X₁ is used as the“row-direction pixel of the irradiation position” in Expression (4), thedistance D₁ is used as the distance D in Expressions (2) and (3). Thein-provisional-image irradiation position X₂ is used as the“row-direction pixel of the irradiation position” in Expression (4), thedistance D₂ is used as the distance D in Expressions (2) and (3). Thein-provisional-image irradiation position X₃ is used as the“row-direction pixel of the irradiation position” in Expression (4), thedistance D₃ is used as the distance D in Expressions (2) and (3). Thein-provisional-image irradiation position X₁₆ is used as the“row-direction pixel of the irradiation position” in Expression (4), thedistance D₁₆ is used as the distance D in Expressions (2) and (3). Thein-provisional-image irradiation position X₁₇ is used as the“row-direction pixel of the irradiation position” in Expression (4), thedistance D₁₇ is used as the distance D in Expressions (2) and (3). Thein-provisional-image irradiation position X₁₈ is used as the“row-direction pixel of the irradiation position” in Expression (4), thedistance D₁₈ is used as the distance D in Expressions (2) and (3). Thehalf angle of view α, the emission angle β, and theinter-reference-point distance d closest to the in-provisional-imageirradiation positions X₁, X₂, X₃, X₁₆, X₁₇, and X₁₈ are derived fromExpressions (2) to (4).

In step 236, the deriving unit 100A derives the parameter based on thespecific correspondence information. Thereafter, the process proceeds tostep 238. The parameter derived by in step 236 is a parameter associatedwith the specific correspondence information, and is, for example, aparameter associated with the correspondence information by performingthe process of step 234 in the past.

The parameter derived in step 236 may be a parameter associated with thecorrespondence information by performing the process of step 234 in thepast, and the deriving unit 100A may derive the parameter again by usingExpressions (2) to (4) based on the specific correspondence information.

In step 238, the deriving unit 100A derives the in-actual-imageirradiation position based on the parameter derived in step 234 or step236. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 240.

For example, the in-actual-image irradiation position is derived fromExpressions (2) to (4) in step 238. That is, the parameter derived instep 234 or step 236 is substituted into Expressions (2) to (4), and thedistance is substituted as the distance D into Expressions (2) to (4) byperforming the actual measurement in step 230. Accordingly, the“row-direction pixel of the irradiation position” is derived as thein-actual-image irradiation position.

For example, in step 240, the deriving unit 100A displays the actualimage, the distance, and the irradiation position mark 116 on thedisplay unit 86 as shown in FIG. 20. Thereafter, the process proceeds tostep 242.

The actual image displayed on the display unit 86 by performing theprocess of step 240 is an image acquired by performing the actualimaging in step 230.

The distance displayed on the display unit 86 by performing the processof step 240 is a distance acquired by performing the actual measurementin step 230.

The irradiation position mark 116 displayed on the display unit 86 byperforming the process of step 240 is a mark indicating thein-actual-image irradiation position derived by performing the processof step 238.

In step 242, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not thedistance acquired by performing the actual measurement in step 230 is ina correspondence information distance range. A case where the distanceacquired by performing the actual measurement in step 230 is not in thecorrespondence information distance range means that the distanceacquired by performing the actual measurement in step 230 is out of thecorrespondence information distance range.

A case where the distance is in the correspondence information distancerange means that the distance is within a range of the distancespecified from the correspondence information used in step 234 or step236. In contrast, a case where the distance is out of the correspondenceinformation distance range means that the distance is not in the rangeof the distance specified from the correspondence information used instep 234 or step 236. The case where the distance is out of thecorrespondence information distance range is distinguished between acase where the distance is out of a first correspondence informationdistance range and a case where the distance is out of a secondcorrespondence information distance range.

For example, in a case where the relation between distances D₁₀₀, D₁₀₁,and D₁₀₂ specified from the correspondence information used in step 234or step 236 “D₁₀₀<D₁₀₁<D₁₀₂” as shown in FIG. 21, the case where thedistance is in the correspondence information distance range and thecase where the distance is out of the correspondence informationdistance range are defined as follows.

That is, in the example shown in FIG. 21, the case where the distance isin the correspondence information distance range corresponds to a rangeof the distance D₁₀₀ or more and the distance D₁₀₂ or less. The casewhere the distance is out of the first correspondence informationdistance range corresponds to a range of less than the distance D₁₀₀.The case where the distance is out of the second correspondenceinformation distance range corresponds to a range of more than thedistance D₁₀₂.

In a case the distance acquired by performing the actual measurement instep 230 is in the correspondence information distance range in step242, the determination result is positive, and the process proceeds tostep 244. In a case where the distance acquired by performing the actualmeasurement in step 230 is out of the correspondence informationdistance range in step 242, the determination result is negative, andthe process proceeds to step 246.

For example, in step 246, the deriving unit 100A displays a warning andrecommendation message 120 on the display unit 86 such that the alarmand recommendation message is superimposed on the actual image, as shownin FIG. 22. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 248.

The warning and recommendation message 120 is a message for warning theuser that there is a high possibility that the laser beam will not beapplied to a position in the real space which corresponds to theposition of the irradiation position mark 116 and recommending theprovisional measurement and the provisional imaging to the user.

In the example shown in FIG. 22, a warning message of “the irradiationposition mark has low accuracy (reliability)” is included in the warningand recommendation message 120. In the example shown in FIG. 22, arecommendation message of “it is recommended that the provisionalmeasurement and the provisional imaging are performed in a range of oometers to 44 meters” is included in the warning and recommendationmessage 120.

The “range of oo meters to ΔΔ meters” included in the recommendationmessage is a range out of the first correspondence information distancerange or a range out of the second correspondence information distancerange. That is, in a case where the distance acquired by performing theactual measurement in step 230 is out of the first correspondenceinformation distance range, a specific range out of the firstcorrespondence information distance range is employed. In a case wherethe distance acquired by performing the actual measurement in step 230is out of the second correspondence information distance range, aspecific range out of the second correspondence information distancerange is employed.

The specific range means a range of the distance recommended in theprovisional measurement based on the relation between the distanceacquired by performing the actual measurement in step 230 and thecorrespondence information distance range. For example, the specificrange is a range which is uniquely determined from a predetermined tableor calculation expression depending on a degree of deviation of thedistance acquired by performing the actual measurement in step 230 froma specific value in the correspondence information distance range. Thespecific value in the correspondence information distance range may be acenter value or an average value in the correspondence informationdistance range. For example, the specific range out of the firstcorrespondence information distance range may be a range which isuniquely determined depending on a difference between the distance D₁₀₀shown in FIG. 21 and the distance acquired by performing the actualmeasurement in step 230. For example, the specific range out of thesecond correspondence information distance range may be a range which isuniquely determined depending on a difference between the distance D₁₀₂shown in FIG. 21 and the distance acquired by performing the actualmeasurement in step 230. Instead of the “specific range”, a “pluralityof default distances” may be used. For example, three or more distancesseparated from each other at equal spaces within the specific rangeacquired as described above may be used as the plurality of defaultdistances, and a plurality of distances recommended in the provisionalmeasurement may be used.

For example, although the warning and recommendation message 120 ispresented to the user in step 246 by being visually displayed on thedisplay unit 86, the technology of the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. For example, the message may be presented to the user by beingoutput as sound by a sound playback device (not shown) provided at thedistance measurement device 10A, or may be displayed through visualdisplay and audible indication.

For example, in step 248, the deriving unit 100A displays a secondintention check screen 118 on the display unit 86 as shown in FIG. 19.Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 250.

The second intention check screen 118 is a screen for checking the user′intention of whether or not to increase the accuracy of the irradiationposition of the laser beam, that is, the accuracy of the irradiationposition mark 116. In the example shown in FIG. 19, a message of “do youwant to increase the accuracy of the irradiation position mark?” isdisplayed on the second intention check screen 118. In the example shownin FIG. 19, a soft key of “yes” designated for announcing an intentionto increase the accuracy of the irradiation position mark 116 isdisplayed on the second intention check screen 118. In the example shownin FIG. 19, a soft key of “no” designated for announcing an intentionnot to increase the accuracy of the irradiation position mark 116 isdisplayed on the second intention check screen 118.

In step 250, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not toincrease the accuracy of the irradiation position mark 116. In a casewhere the accuracy of the irradiation position mark 116 is increased instep 250, that is, in a case where the soft key of “yes” of the secondintention check screen 118 is pressed through the touch panel 88, thedetermination result is positive, and the process proceeds to step 208.In a case where the accuracy of the irradiation position mark 116 is notincreased in step 250, that is, in a case where the soft key of “no” ofthe second intention check screen 118 is pressed through the touch panel88, the determination result is negative, and the process proceeds tostep 244.

Meanwhile, in a case where the parameter changing factor does not occurin step 200 shown in FIG. 11, the determination result is negative, andthe process proceeds to step 252.

In step 252, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not thecorrespondence information is stored in the correspondence table 98.

In a case where the correspondence information is not stored in thecorrespondence table 98 in step 252, the determination result isnegative, and the process proceeds to step 200. In a case where thecorrespondence information is stored in the correspondence table 98 instep 252, the determination result is positive, and the process proceedsto step 228.

Meanwhile, the deriving unit 100A determines whether or not the endcondition is satisfied in step 244 shown in FIG. 13. In a case where theend condition is not satisfied in step 244, the determination result isnegative, and the process proceeds to step 200. In a case where the endcondition is satisfied in step 244, the determination result ispositive, and the actual distance measurement process is ended.

Next, the irradiation position adjustment process realized by executingthe irradiation position adjustment program 107 in the CPU 100 in a casewhere the irradiation position adjustment button 90F is pressed in astate in which the live view image is displayed on the display unit 86will be described with reference to FIG. 23.

Although it will be described below that the irradiation position of thelaser beam in the X-direction is adjusted by operating the horizontalrotation mechanism 15 for the sake of convenience in description, theirradiation position of the laser beam in the Y direction is similarlyadjusted. The adjustment of the irradiation position of the laser beamin the Y direction is realized by operating the longitudinal rotationmechanism 13. Hereinafter, a case where the live view image is displayedon the display unit 86 at a specific frame rate will be described forthe sake of convenience in description.

In the irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG. 23, thecontrol unit 100B initially determines whether or not a default timecomes in step 400. For example, the default time means a time wheneverthe live view image is displayed in three frames. The default time isnot limited to the time whenever the live view image is displayed inthree frames, and the number of frames in which the live view image isdisplayed may not be three, or may be prescribed by a predetermined timesuch as 3 seconds or 5 seconds. The default time may be a timepreviously determined according to an instruction received through thetouch panel 88.

In a case where the default time comes in step 400, the determinationresult is positive, and the process proceeds to step 402. In a casewhere the default time does not come in step 400, the determinationresult is negative, and the process proceeds to step 416.

In step 402, the control unit 100B performs the measurement of thedistance by controlling the distance measurement control unit 68. Thecontrol unit 100B performs the imaging by controlling the imagingelement driver 74 and the image signal processing circuit 76.Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 404.

In step 404, the control unit 100B causes the deriving unit 100A toderive the in-live-view-image irradiation position based on the latestparameter. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 406. For example, thelatest parameter is a parameter used in the deriving of thein-actual-image irradiation position in a case where the in-imageirradiation position derived last before the process of step 404 isperformed is the in-actual-image irradiation position derived byperforming the process of step 238 (see FIG. 13). For example, in a casewhere the process of step 412 to be described below after the process ofprevious step 404 is performed, the latest parameter is a parameterother than an emission angle β of the parameters used in the deriving ofthe latest in-live-view-image irradiation position and an emission angleβ updated in step 412.

For example, the in-live-view-image irradiation position is derived fromExpressions (2) to (4) in step 404. That is, the latest parameter issubstituted into Expressions (2) to (4), and the distance acquired byperforming the measurement in step 402 is substituted as the distance Dinto Expressions (2) to (4). Accordingly, the “row-direction pixel ofthe irradiation position” is derived as the in-live-view-imageirradiation position.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the control unit 100B maycontrol the display unit 86 to display an irradiation position mark 116Awhich is a mark indicating the in-live-view-image irradiation positionderived by performing the process of step 404 in a display region of thelive view image. Therefore, according to the distance measurement device10A, the user can easily ascertain the latest in-live-view-imageirradiation position compared to a case where the irradiation positionmark 116A is not displayed.

In a case where the irradiation position mark 116A is displayed, thecontrol unit 100B may control the display unit 86 to display such thatthe irradiation position mark 116A is turned on and off and theirradiation position mark 116 is not turned on and off in order todistinguish the irradiation position mark 116A from the irradiationposition mark 116 shown in FIG. 20.

In step 406, the control unit 100B determines whether or not thein-live-view-image irradiation position derived by the deriving unit100A by performing the process of step 404 is in the default range. Forexample, a case where the in-live-view-image irradiation position is inthe default range means that the in-live-view-image irradiation positionis present inside a circular frame 117 of which a radius from the centerof the captured image is a predetermined length (for example, severalmillimeters in the present embodiment), as shown in FIG. 24. The frame117 may be a frame surrounding a specific partial region in the displayregion of the captured image. Although it has been described in thepresent embodiment that the frame 117 is displayed in the display regionof the captured image, the technology of the present disclosure is notlimited thereto, and the frame 117 may not be displayed. The display andthe non-display of the frame 117 performed by the display unit 86 may beselectively switched by the control unit 100B according to aninstruction received through the touch panel 88.

In a case where the in-live-view-image irradiation position is out ofthe default range in step 406, the determination result is negative, andthe process proceeds to step 408.

In step 408, the control unit 100B displays out-of-default-rangeinformation on the display unit 86 such that the out-of-default-rangeinformation is superimposed on the live view image. Therefore, theprocess proceeds to step 410. The out-of-default-range information isinformation indicating that the in-live-view-image irradiation positionderived by the deriving unit 100A by performing the process of step 404is out of the default range.

For example, as the out-of-default-range information, there is a message119 of the “irradiation position of the laser beam is not present in thecentral portion of the image” displayed on the display unit 86, as shownin FIG. 25. This message 119 is merely an example. For example, in acase where the frame 117 is displayed, a message of the “frame is notirradiated with the laser beam” may be displayed as theout-of-default-range information on the display unit 86. For example,the message is not limited to be visually displayed on the display unit86, and may be audibly presented by being as sound by a sound playbackdevice (not shown). Permanent visual display using an image formingdevice (not shown) may be performed, or at least two of the visualdisplay, the audible indication, or the permanent visual display may beperformed.

As stated above, the out-of-default-range information is displayed bythe display unit 86 by performing the process of step 408, and thus,notification indicating that the in-live-view-image irradiation positionis out of the default range is presented to the user. That is, thedisplay unit 86 is operated as the second notification unit according tothe technology of the present disclosure by performing the process ofstep 408.

In step 410, the control unit 100B rotates the distance measurement unit12 to a default direction by a default rotation amount (an example of adefault amount according to the technology of the present disclosure) bycontrolling the horizontal rotation mechanism 15 through the motordriver 23. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 412.

For example, the default rotation amount means a constant rotationamount. For example, the default rotation amount is a rotation amountneeded to change the emission angle β by a predetermined angle (forexample, 3 degrees).

The default direction is a direction in which a distance between thein-live-view-image irradiation position derived by the deriving unit100A by performing the process of step 404 and the center of the frame117 decreases. Thus, the default direction is uniquely determined from arelation between the in-live-view-image irradiation position derived bythe deriving unit 100A by performing the process of step 404 and thecenter of the captured image which is the center of the frame 117.

In step 412, the control unit 100B updates the emission angle βaccording to the rotation direction and the rotation amount of thedistance measurement unit 12 rotated by performing the process of step410. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 400.

In a case where the in-live-view-image irradiation position is in thedefault range in step 406, the determination result is positive, and theprocess proceeds to step 414.

In step 414, the control unit 100B displays in-default-range informationon the display unit 86 such that the in-default-range information issuperimposed on the live view image. Thereafter, the process proceeds tostep 416. The in-default-range information is information indicatingthat the in-live-view-image irradiation position derived by the derivingunit 100A by performing the process of step 404 is in the default range.

For example, as the in-default-range information, there is a message 121of the “irradiation position of the laser beam is present in the centralportion of the image” displayed on the display unit 86, as shown in FIG.26. This message 121 is merely an example. For example, in a case wherethe frame 117 is displayed, a message of the “frame is irradiated withthe laser beam” may be displayed as the in-default-range information onthe display unit 86. For example, the message is not limited to bevisually displayed on the display unit 86, and may be audibly presentedby being output as sound by a sound playback device (not shown).Permanent visual display using an image forming device (not shown) maybe performed, or at least two of the visual display, the audibleindication, or the permanent visual display may be performed.

As mentioned above, the in-default-range information is displayed on thedisplay unit 86 by performing the process of step 414, and thus,notification indicating that the in-live-view-image irradiation positionis in the default range is presented to the user. That is, the displayunit 86 is operated by the first notification unit according to thetechnology of the present disclosure by performing the process of step414.

In step 416, the control unit 100B determines whether or not an endcondition which is a condition in which an actual irradiation positionadjustment process is ended is satisfied. In the actual irradiationposition adjustment process, the end condition is, for example, acondition in which the irradiation position adjustment button 90F ispressed again and/or a condition in which a predetermined time (forexample, 1 minute) elapses after the performing of the actualirradiation position adjustment process is started.

In a case where the end condition is not satisfied in step 416, thedetermination result is negative, and the process proceeds to step 400.In a case where the end condition is satisfied in step 416, thedetermination result is positive, and the actual irradiation positionadjustment process is ended.

As described above, in the distance measurement device 10A, in a casewhere the in-live-view-image irradiation position is out of the defaultrange within the captured image (step 406: N), the measurement performedby the distance measurement control unit 68 is performed until thein-live-view-image irradiation position is positioned within the frame117 (step 402). The in-live-view-image irradiation position is derivedbased on the distance measured by the distance measurement control unit68 and the latest parameter including the latest emission angle β (step404).

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10A, it ispossible to perform the distance measurement in a state in which thein-live-view-image irradiation position is positioned within the frame117.

In the distance measurement device 10A, in a case where thein-live-view-image irradiation position is out of the default rangewithin the captured image, the measurement is performed by the distancemeasurement control unit 68, and the emission angle β is changed by therotation mechanism by driving the motors 17 and 19 until thein-live-view-image irradiation position is positioned within the frame117. The in-live-view-image irradiation position is derived based on thedistance measured by the distance measurement control unit 68 and thelatest parameter including the latest emission angle β.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10A, it ispossible to reduce an effort to position the in-live-view-imageirradiation position within the frame 117 compared to a case where theemission angle β is changed without using the motors 17 and 19 and therotation mechanism.

In the distance measurement device 10A, a power for changing theemission angle β to the default direction is generated by the motors 17and 19 based on the positional relation between the latestin-live-view-image irradiation position and the center of the frame 117,and thus, the emission angle β is changed (steps 410 and 412).

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10A, it ispossible to position the in-live-view-image irradiation position withinthe frame 117 with high accuracy compared to a case where the power forchanging the emission angle β is not generated by the motors 17 and 19regardless of the positional relation between the latestin-live-view-image irradiation position and the center of the frame 117.

In the distance measurement device 10A, the irradiation positionadjustment process is performed for a period during which the live viewimage is displayed on the display unit 86.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10A, it ispossible to perform the distance measurement in a case where thein-live-view-image irradiation position is positioned within the frame117 while referring to the state of the subject.

In the distance measurement device 10A, the captured image is displayedas the live view image, and the frame 117 is displayed in the displayregion of the live view image.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10A, the usercan easily ascertain the position of the frame 117 in the display regionof the live view image compared to a case where the frame 117 is notdisplayed in the display region of the live view image.

In the distance measurement device 10A, in a case where thein-live-view-image irradiation position is positioned within the frame117 (step 406: Y), the message 121 is displayed in the display region ofthe live view image (see FIG. 26).

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10A, the usercan easily recognize that the in-live-view-image irradiation position ispositioned within the frame 117 compared to a case where thenotification indicating that the in-live-view-image irradiation positionis positioned within the frame 117 is not presented.

In the distance measurement device 10A, in a case where thein-live-view-image irradiation position is out of the frame 117 (step406: N), the message 119 is displayed in the display region of the liveview image (see FIG. 25).

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10A, the usercan easily recognize that the in-live-view-image irradiation position ispositioned within the frame 117 compared to a case where thenotification indicating that the in-live-view-image irradiation positionis out of the frame 117 is not presented.

Although it has been described in the first embodiment that the controlunit 100B acquires the direction in which the distance measurement unit12 is rotated based on the positional relation between the latestin-live-view-image irradiation position and the center of the frame 117,the technology of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, the control unit 100B may acquire the direction in which thedistance measurement unit 12 is rotated based on the positional relationbetween the latest in-live-view-image irradiation position and onespecific point of quadrant points of the frame 117. As stated above, thecontrol unit 100B may acquire the direction in which the distancemeasurement unit 12 is rotated based on the positional relation betweenthe latest in-live-view-image irradiation position and the frame 117.

Although it has been described in the first embodiment that the frame117 is positioned in the central portion within the captured image, theframe 117 may be one end portion of both end portions within thecaptured image in a left-right direction, or may be one end of both endswithin the captured image in an upper-lower direction. The position ofthe frame 117 may be fixed, and may be changed according to, forexample, an instruction received through the touch panel 88. The size ofthe frame 117 may be fixed, and may be changed according to, forexample, an instruction received through the touch panel 88.

Although it has been described in the first embodiment that the frame117 has the circular shape, the technology of the present disclosure isnot limited thereto, and may have, for example, a frame having anothershape such as an oval shape, a square shape, or a triangular shapeformed in a closed region.

Although it has been described in the first embodiment that the emissionangle β is updated according to the rotation of the distance measurementunit 12, the technology of the present disclosure is not limitedthereto, and the inter-reference-point distance d together with theemission angle β may also be updated. For example, in a case where theinter-reference-point distance d is updated, the in-live-view-imageirradiation position may be derived based on the latest parameterincluding the updated inter-reference-point distance d in step 404 shownin FIG. 23.

Second Embodiment

Although it has been described in the first embodiment that thein-live-view-image irradiation position is derived regardless of adissimilarity between the distances before and after the measurement isperformed, it will be described in a second embodiment that whether ornot to derive the in-live-view-image irradiation position depending onthe dissimilarity between the distances before and after the measurementis performed. In the second embodiment, since the same constituentelements as the constituent elements described in the first embodimentwill be assigned the same references, the description thereof will beomitted, and only portions different from those of the first embodimentwill be described.

A distance measurement device 10B (see FIGS. 1 and 4) according to thesecond embodiment is different from the distance measurement device 10Ain that an irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG. 27 isperformed instead of the irradiation position adjustment process shownin FIG. 23.

The distance measurement device 10B according to the second embodimentis different from the distance measurement device 10A in that anirradiation position adjustment program 132 instead of the irradiationposition adjustment program 107 is stored in the secondary storage unit104 (see FIG. 8).

Next, an irradiation position adjustment process which is realized asthe action of the distance measurement device 10B by performing theirradiation position adjustment program 132 in the CPU 100 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 27. The same steps as those of theflowcharts shown in FIG. 23 will be assigned the same step numbers, andthus, the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, for the sakeof convenience in description, it will be described on the assumptionthat the process of step 238 of the distance measurement processdescribed in the first embodiment is already performed.

The irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG. 27 isdifferent from the irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG.23 in that step 403 is provided between the step 402 and step 404.

In step 403, the control unit 100B derives a distance dissimilarity, anddetermines whether or not the derived distance dissimilarity exceeds athreshold value. For example, in a case where the process of step 404 isalready performed, the distance dissimilarity is a dissimilarity betweenthe distance used in the previous deriving task of thein-live-view-image irradiation position performed by the deriving unit100A and the latest distance measured by performing the process of step402.

In step 403, in a case where the process of step 404 is alreadyperformed, an absolute value of a difference between the distance usedin the previous deriving task of the in-live-view-image irradiationposition performed by the deriving unit 100A and the latest distancemeasured by performing the process of step 402 is used as an example ofthe distance dissimilarity.

For example, in a case where the process of step 404 is not performedyet, the distance dissimilarity is a dissimilarity between the distanceused in the deriving of the in-actual-image irradiation positionperformed by the deriving unit 100A and the latest distance measured byperforming the process of step 402.

In step 403, in a case where the process of step 404 is not performedyet, an absolute value of a difference between the distance used in thederiving of the in-actual-image irradiation position performed by thederiving unit 100A and the latest distance measured by performing theprocess of step 402 is used as the example of the distancedissimilarity.

Although the absolute value of the difference is used as the example ofthe distance dissimilarity, the technology of the present disclosure isnot limited thereto. For example, in a case where the process of step404 is not performed yet, a ratio of the latest distance measured byperforming the process of step 402 to the distance used in the derivingof the in-actual-image irradiation position performed by the derivingunit 100A may be used as the distance dissimilarity. For example, in acase where the process of step 404 is already performed, a ratio of thelatest distance measured by performing the process of step 402 to thedistance used in the previous deriving task of the in-live-view-imageirradiation position performed by the deriving unit 100A may be used asthe distance dissimilarity.

In a case where the distance dissimilarity exceeds the threshold valuein step 403, the determination result is positive, and the processproceeds to step 404. In a case where the distance dissimilarity isequal to or less than the threshold value in step 403, the determinationresult is negative, and the process proceeds to step 400.

As described above, in the distance measurement device 10B, the distanceis Intermittently measured by performing the process of step 400 (step402). In a case where the latest distance dissimilarity is equal to orgreater than the threshold value (step 403: Y), the processes subsequentto step 404 are performed.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10B, it ispossible to easily to maintain the in-live-view-image irradiationposition in the frame 117 compared to a case where the processessubsequent to step 404 are not performed in a case where the distancedissimilarity is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

Third Embodiment

Although it has been described in the second embodiment that thein-live-view-image irradiation position is able to be adjusted under thecondition in which the default time comes, it will be described in athird embodiment that the in-live-view-image irradiation position isable to be adjusted under the condition in which the release button ishalf pressed. In the third embodiment, since the same constituentelements as the constituent elements described in the first and secondembodiments will be assigned the same references, the descriptionthereof will be omitted, and only portions different from those of thefirst and second embodiments will be described.

A distance measurement device 10C (see FIGS. 1 and 4) according to thethird embodiment is different from the distance measurement device 10Bin that an irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG. 28 isperformed instead of the irradiation position adjustment process shownin FIG. 27.

The distance measurement device 10C according to the third embodiment isdifferent from the distance measurement device 10B in that anirradiation position adjustment program 134 instead of the irradiationposition adjustment program 132 is stored in the secondary storage unit104 (see FIG. 8).

Next, an irradiation position adjustment process which is realized asthe action of the distance measurement device 10C by performing theirradiation position adjustment program 134 in the CPU 100 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 28. The same steps as those of theflowcharts shown in FIG. 27 will be assigned the same step numbers, andthus, the description thereof will be omitted.

The irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG. 28 isdifferent from the irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG.27 in that step 450 is provided instead of step 400.

In step 450, the control unit 100B determines whether or not the releasebutton is in the half pressed state. In a case where the release buttonis in the half pressed state in step 450, the determination result ispositive, and the process proceeds to step 402. In a case where therelease button is not in the half pressed state in step 450, thedetermination result is negative, and the process proceeds to step 416.

As described above, in the distance measurement device 10C, in a casewhere the release button is in the half pressed state (step 450: Y), theprocesses subsequent to step 402 are performed.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10C, it ispossible to prevent the in-live-view-image irradiation position fromentering a state in which the in-live-view-image irradiation position isnot positioned within the frame 117 at the time of the actual exposingcompared to a case where the processes subsequent to step 402 are notperformed in a case where the release button is in the half pressedstate.

Fourth Embodiment

Although it has been described in the first to third embodiments thatthe distance measurement unit 12 is rotated by activating the rotationmechanism by the power generated by the motors 17 and 19, it will bedescribed in a fourth embodiment that the distance measurement unit 12is manually rotated. In the fourth embodiment, since the sameconstituent elements as the constituent elements described in the firstto third embodiments will be assigned the same references, thedescription thereof will be omitted, and only portions different fromthose of the first to third embodiments will be described.

For example, as shown in FIG. 29, a distance measurement device 10Daccording to the fourth embodiment is different from the distancemeasurement device 10C in that the imaging device 139 instead of theimaging device 14 is provided. The imaging device 139 is different fromthe imaging device 14 in that an imaging device main body 180 instead ofthe imaging device main body 18 is provided. The imaging device mainbody 180 is different from the imaging device main body 18 in that arotary encoder 25 is provided instead of the motor 17 and the motordriver 21. The distance measurement device 10D according to the fourthembodiment is different from the distance measurement device 10C in thata rotary encoder 27 is provided instead of the motor 19 and the motordriver 23.

The rotary encoder 25 is connected to the longitudinal rotationmechanism 13 and the busline 84, and detects the rotation direction andthe rotation amount of the hot shoe 20 rotated by the longitudinalrotation mechanism 13. The main control unit 62 acquires the rotationdirection and the rotation amount detected by the rotary encoder 25. Therotary encoder 27 is connected to the horizontal rotation mechanism 15and the busline 84, and detects the rotation direction and the rotationamount of the hot shoe 20 rotated by the horizontal rotation mechanism15. The main control unit 62 acquires the rotation direction and therotation amount detected by the rotary encoder 27.

A distance measurement device 10D according to the fourth embodiment isdifferent from the distance measurement device 10C in that anirradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG. 30 is performedinstead of the irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG. 28.

The distance measurement device 10D according to the fourth embodimentis different from the distance measurement device 10C in that anirradiation position adjustment program 136 instead of the irradiationposition adjustment program 134 is stored in the secondary storage unit104 (see FIG. 8).

Next, an irradiation position adjustment process which is realized asthe action of the distance measurement device 10D by performing theirradiation position adjustment program 136 in the CPU 100 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 30. The same steps as those of theflowcharts shown in FIG. 28 will be assigned the same step numbers, andthus, the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, for the sakeof convenience in description, it will be assumed that the distancemeasurement unit 12 is not rotated by the power of the motors 17 and 19,the rotation mechanism is manually activated, and the distancemeasurement unit 12 is rotated according to the rotation operation ofthe rotation mechanism.

The irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG. 30 isdifferent from the irradiation position adjustment process shown in FIG.28 in that step 460 is provided instead of step 410 and step 462 isprovided instead of step 412.

In step 460, the control unit 100B determines whether or not thedistance measurement unit 12 is rotated. In a case where the distancemeasurement unit 12 is not rotated in step 460, the determination resultis negative, and the process proceeds to step 416. In a case where thedistance measurement unit 12 is rotated in step 460, the determinationresult is positive, and the process proceeds to step 462.

In step 462, the control unit 100B updates the emission angle βaccording to the rotation direction and the rotation amount of thedistance measurement unit 12. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step450.

As described above, in the distance measurement device 10D, in a casewhere the distance measurement unit 12 is manually rotated and thein-live-view-image irradiation position is out of the frame 117, thedistance is measured by the distance measurement control unit 68 untilthe in-live-view-image irradiation position is positioned within theframe 117. The in-live-view-image irradiation position is derived by thederiving unit 100A based on the measured distance and the emission angleβ.

Therefore, according to the distance measurement device 10D, it ispossible to easily reflect an intention of the user on the change of theemission angle β compared to a case where the distance measurement unit12 is not able to be manually rotated.

Fifth Embodiment

Although it has been described in the first embodiment that the distancemeasurement device 10A is realized by the distance measurement unit 12and the imaging device 14, a distance measurement device 10E realized bythe distance measurement unit 12, an imaging device 140, and a smartdevice 142 will be described in a fifth embodiment.

In the fifth embodiment, since the same constituent elements as those ofthe above-described embodiments will be assigned the same references,the description thereof will be omitted, and only portions differentfrom those of the above-described embodiments will be described.Hereinafter, the distance measurement program and the irradiationposition adjustment programs are referred to as the “program” for thesake of convenience in description in a case where it is not necessaryto distinguish between the distance measurement program 106 and theirradiation position adjustment programs 107, 132, 134, and 136.Hereinafter, the irradiation position adjustment programs are referredto as the “irradiation position adjustment program” without beingassigned the references for the sake of convenience in description in acase where it is not necessary to distinguish between the irradiationposition adjustment programs 107, 132, 134, and 136.

For example, as shown in FIG. 31, the distance measurement device 10Eaccording to the fifth embodiment is different from the distancemeasurement device 10A according to the first embodiment in that theimaging device 140 instead of the imaging device 14 is provided. Thedistance measurement device 10E is different from the distancemeasurement device 10A in that the smart device 142 is provided.

The imaging device 140 is different from the imaging device 14 in thatan imaging device main body 143 instead of the imaging device main body18 is provided.

The imaging device main body 143 is different from the imaging devicemain body 18 in that a wireless communication unit 144 and a wirelesscommunication antenna 146 are provided.

The wireless communication unit 144 is connected to the busline 84 andthe wireless communication antenna 146. The main control unit 62 outputstransmission target information which is information of a targettransmitted to the smart device 142 to the wireless communication unit144.

The wireless communication unit 144 transmits, as a radio wave, thetransmission target information input from the main control unit 62 tothe smart device 142 through the wireless communication antenna 146. Ina case where a radio wave from the smart device 142 is received by thewireless communication antenna 146, the wireless communication unit 144acquires a signal corresponding to the received radio wave, and outputsthe acquired signal to the main control unit 62.

The smart device 142 includes a CPU 148, a primary storage unit 150, anda secondary storage unit 152. The CPU 148, the primary storage unit 150,and the secondary storage unit 152 are connected to a busline 162.

The CPU 148 controls the entire distance measurement device 10Eincluding the smart device 142. The primary storage unit 150 is avolatile memory used as a work area in a case where various programs areexecuted. A RAM is used as an example of the primary storage unit 150.The secondary storage unit 152 is a non-volatile memory that storesvarious parameters or control programs for controlling the entireactivation of the distance measurement device 10E including the smartdevice 142. A flash memory or an EEPROM are used as an example of thesecondary storage unit 152.

The smart device 142 includes a display unit 154, a touch panel 156, awireless communication unit 158, and a wireless communication antenna160.

The display unit 154 is connected to the busline 162 through a displaycontrol unit (not shown), and displays various information items underthe control of the display control unit. For example, the display unit154 is realized by a LCD.

The touch panel 156 is layered on a display screen of the display unit154, and senses touch using a pointer. The touch panel 156 is connectedto the busline 162 through a touch panel I/F (not shown), and outputspositional information indicating a position touched by the pointer. Thetouch panel I/F activates the touch panel according to an instruction ofthe CPU 148, and the touch panel I/F outputs the positional informationinput from the touch panel 156 to the CPU 148.

The soft keys corresponding to the actual measurement and actual imagingbutton 90A, the provisional measurement and provisional imaging button90B, the imaging system operation mode switching button 90C, the wideangle instruction button 90D, the telephoto instruction button 90E, andthe irradiation position adjustment button 90F which are described aboveare displayed on the display unit 154.

For example, as shown in FIG. 32, an actual measurement and actualimaging button 90A1 functioning as the actual measurement and actualimaging button 90A is displayed as a soft key on the display unit 154,and is pressed by the user through the touch panel 156.

For example, a provisional measurement and provisional imaging button90B1 functioning as the provisional measurement and provisional imagingbutton 90B is displayed as a soft key on the display unit 154, and ispressed by the user through the touch panel 156.

For example, an imaging system operation mode switching button 90C1functioning as the imaging system operation mode switching button 90C isdisplayed as a soft key on the display unit 154, and is pressed by theuser through the touch panel 156.

For example, a wide angle instruction button 90D1 functioning as thewide angle instruction button 90D is displayed as a soft key on thedisplay unit 154, and is pressed by the user through the touch panel156.

For example, a telephoto instruction button 90E1 functioning as thetelephoto instruction button 90E is displayed as a soft key on thedisplay unit 154, and is pressed by the user through the touch panel156.

For example, an irradiation position adjustment button 90F1 functioningas the irradiation position adjustment button 90F is displayed as a softkey on the display unit 154, and is pressed by the user through thetouch panel 156.

The wireless communication unit 158 is connected to the busline 162 andthe wireless communication antenna 160. The wireless communication unit158 transmits, as a radio wave, a signal input from the CPU 148 to theimaging device main body 143 through the wireless communication antenna160. In a case where a radio wave from the imaging device main body 143is received by the wireless communication antenna 160, the wirelesscommunication unit 158 acquires a signal corresponding to the receivedradio wave, and outputs the acquired signal to the CPU 148. Accordingly,the imaging device main body 143 is controlled by the smart device 142by performing wireless communication with the smart device 142.

The secondary storage unit 152 stores a program. The CPU 148 reads theprogram out of the secondary storage unit 152, loads the readout programinto the primary storage unit 150, and executes the distance measurementprogram. Thus, the distance measurement process described in the firstembodiment is realized.

The CPU 148 reads the irradiation position adjustment program out of thesecondary storage unit 152, loads the readout irradiation positionadjustment program into the primary storage unit 150, and executes theirradiation position adjustment program. Thus, the irradiation positionadjustment process described in the first to fourth embodiments isrealized.

As described above, in the distance measurement device 10E, thecorrespondence information acquired by associating thein-provisional-image irradiation position with the distance whichcorresponds to the in-provisional-image irradiation position and isprovisionally measured by using the laser beam is acquired by the CPU148 of the smart device 142 whenever each of the plurality of distancesis provisionally measured. The in-actual-image irradiation position isderived based on the acquired correspondence information by the CPU 148of the smart device 142. Therefore, according to the distancemeasurement device 10E, it is possible to derive the in-actual-imageirradiation position with high accuracy compared to a case where theactual measurement and the actual imaging are performed withoutperforming the provisional measurement and the provisional imaging. Inthe distance measurement device 10E, the CPU 148 is operated as thederiving unit 100A and the control unit 100B by executing theirradiation position adjustment program (see FIG. 10). Therefore,according to the distance measurement device 10E, it is possible toacquire the same effects as the effects acquired by performing theirradiation position adjustment process described in the first to fourthembodiments.

According to the distance measurement device 10E, it is possible toreduce a load applied to the imaging device 140 in acquiring the effectsdescribed in the above-described embodiments compared to a case wherethe distance measurement process and the irradiation position adjustmentprocess are performed by the imaging device 140.

Although it has been described in the above-described embodiments thatthe program is read out of the secondary storage unit 104 (152), it isnot necessary to store the distance measurement program in the secondarystorage unit 104 (152) from the beginning. For example, as shown in FIG.33, the program may be stored in an arbitrary portable storage medium500 such as a solid state drive (SSD) or a universal serial bus (USB)memory. In this case, the program stored in the storage medium 500 isinstalled on the distance measurement device 10A (10B, 10C, 10D, or10E), and the installed distance measurement program is executed by theCPU 100 (148).

The program may be stored in a storage unit of another computer or aserver device connected to the distance measurement device 10A (10B,10C, 10D, or 10E) through a communication network (not shown), or theprogram may be downloaded according to a request of the distancemeasurement device 10A (10B, 10C, 10D, or 10E). In this case, thedownloaded distance measurement program is executed by the CPU 100(148).

Although it has been described in the above-described embodiments thatvarious information items such as the actual image, the provisionalimage, the distance, the in-actual-image irradiation position, and theprovisional measurement and provisional imaging guide screen 112 aredisplayed on the display unit 86 (154), the technology of the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. For example, various informationitems may be displayed on a display unit of an external device usedwhile being connected to the distance measurement device 10A (10B, 10C,10D, or 10E). A personal computer or an eyeglass type or wristwatch typewearable terminal device is used as an example of the external device.

Although it has been described in the above-described embodiments thatvarious information items are visually displayed by the display unit 86(154), the technology of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.For example, audible indication of an output of sound from a soundplayback device may be audibly displayed or a permanent visual displayof an output of a printed article from a printer may be performedinstead of the visual display. Alternatively, at least two of the visualdisplay, the audible indication, or the permanent visual display may beperformed.

Although it has been described in the above-described embodiments thatthe first intention check screen 110, the provisional measurement andprovisional imaging guide screen 112, the re-performing guide screen114, the irradiation position marks 116 and 116A, the frame 117, thesecond intention check screen 118, and the messages 119 and 121 aredisplayed on the display unit 86 (154), the technology of the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first intentioncheck screen 110, the provisional measurement and provisional imagingguide screen 112, the re-performing guide screen 114, the secondintention check screen 118, and the messages 119 and 121 may bedisplayed on a display unit (not shown) different from the display unit86 (154), the irradiation position marks 116 and 116A, and the frame 117may be displayed on the display unit 86 (154). Only at least one of thefirst intention check screen 110, the provisional measurement andprovisional imaging guide screen 112, the re-performing guide screen114, the irradiation position marks 116 and 116A, the frame 117, thesecond intention check screen 118, or the messages 119 and 121 may bedisplayed on a display unit different from the display unit 86 (154).The first intention check screen 110, the provisional measurement andprovisional imaging guide screen 112, the re-performing guide screen114, the irradiation position marks 116 and 116A, the frame 117, thesecond intention check screen 118, and the messages 119 and 121 may beindividually displayed on a plurality of display units including thedisplay unit 86 (154).

Although it has been described in the first embodiment that a power forchanging the emission angle β by the default rotation amount is used asthe power for changing the emission angle β, a rotation amount (forexample, a rotation amount changed for every time) other than thedefault rotation amount may be used as the power for changing theemission angle β. However, it is preferable that the power for changingthe emission angle β is a power for changing the emission angle β by thedefault rotation amount.

As stated above, according the distance measurement device 10A, sincethe power for changing the emission angle β by the default rotationamount is generated by the motors 17 and 19, easy control is realizedcompared to a case where the power for changing the emission angle β bya rotation amount other than the default rotation amount is generated bythe motors 17 and 19.

In the first embodiment, a default rotation amount determined such thata movement amount of the in-live-view-image irradiation position is lessthan an outer diameter of the frame 117 may be used. Therefore,according to the distance measurement device 10A, it is possible toprevent the irradiation position mark 116A from exceeding the frame 117compared to a case where the emission angle β is changed by the defaultrotation amount determined such that the movement amount of thein-live-view-image irradiation position is equal to or greater than theouter diameter of the frame 117.

Although it has been described in the above-described embodiments thatthe laser beam is used as the light for distance measurement, thetechnology of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Directionallight which is light having directivity may be used. For example, themeasurement light may be directional light acquired by light emittingdiode (LED) or a super luminescent diode (SLD). It is preferable thatthe directivity of the directional light is directivity having the samedegree as that of the directivity of the laser beam. For example, it ispreferable that the directivity of the directional light is directivitycapable of being used in the distance measurement in a range of severalmeters to several kilometers.

The distance measurement process and the irradiation position adjustmentprocess described in the above-described embodiments are merelyexamples. Accordingly, an unnecessary step may be removed, a new stepmay be added, or a process procedure may be switched without departingfrom the gist. The processes included in the distance measurementprocess may be realized by only the hardware configuration such as ASIC,or may be realized by the combination of the software configuration andthe hardware configuration using the computer.

The disclosures of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-171421 filed onAug. 31, 2015 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

All documents, patent applications, and technical standards described inthe present specification are herein incorporated by reference to thesame extent as if such individual document, patent application, andtechnical standard were specifically and individually indicated to beherein incorporated by reference.

The above-described embodiments are further disclosed in the followingappendix.

(Appendix 1)

A distance measurement device comprises an imaging unit that images asubject image indicating a subject, a measurement unit that measures adistance to the subject by emitting directional light which is lighthaving directivity to the subject and receiving reflection light of thedirectional light, a change unit that is capable of changing an angle atwhich the directional light is emitted, a deriving unit that derives anin-image irradiation position, which corresponds to an irradiationposition of the directional light onto the subject which is used inmeasurement performed by the measurement unit, within a captured imageacquired by imaging the subject by the imaging unit based on the angleand the distance measured by the measurement unit, and a control unitthat controls the measurement unit to measure the distance, and controlsthe deriving unit to derive the in-image irradiation position based onthe distance measured by the measurement unit and the angle changed bythe change unit, until the in-image irradiation position falls in adefault range within the captured image in a case where the in-imageirradiation position is out of the default range.

What is claimed is:
 1. A distance measurement device comprising: animaging unit that images a subject; a measurement unit that measures adistance to the subject by emitting directional light which is lighthaving directivity to the subject and receiving reflection light of thedirectional light; a change unit that is capable of changing an angle atwhich the directional light is emitted; a deriving unit that derives anin-image irradiation position, which corresponds to an irradiationposition of the directional light onto the subject which is used inmeasurement performed by the measurement unit, within a captured imageacquired by imaging the subject by the imaging unit based on the angleand the distance measured by the measurement unit; and a control unitthat controls the measurement unit to measure the distance, and controlsthe deriving unit to derive the in-image irradiation position based onthe distance measured by the measurement unit and the angle changed bythe change unit, until the in-image irradiation position falls in adefault range within the captured image in a case where the in-imageirradiation position is out of the default range, the default rangebeing a specific region in a display region of the captured image. 2.The distance measurement device according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol unit controls the measurement unit to measure the distance,controls the change unit to change the angle by driving a power source,and controls the deriving unit to derive the in-image irradiationposition based on the distance measured by the measurement unit and theangle changed by the change unit, until the in-image irradiationposition falls in the default range in a case where the in-imageirradiation position is out of the default range.
 3. The distancemeasurement device according to claim 2, wherein the control unitcontrols the power source to generate a power for causing the changeunit to change the angle in a direction in which a distance between thein-image irradiation position and the default range decreases based on apositional relation between the latest in-image irradiation position andthe default range.
 4. The distance measurement device according to claim1, wherein the measurement unit includes an emission unit that emits thedirectional light, and the change unit includes a rotation mechanismthat changes the angle by manually rotating at least the emission unitof the measurement unit.
 5. The distance measurement device according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit performs the control for a periodduring which a plurality of captured images acquired by continuouslyimaging the subject by the imaging unit in a sequence of time iscontinuously displayed on a first display unit.
 6. A distancemeasurement device comprising: an imaging unit that images a subject; ameasurement unit that measures a distance to the subject by emittingdirectional light which is light having directivity to the subject andreceiving reflection light of the directional light; a change unit thatis capable of changing an angle at which the directional light isemitted; a deriving unit that derives an in-image irradiation position,which corresponds to an irradiation position of the directional lightonto the subject which is used in measurement performed by themeasurement unit, within a captured image acquired by imaging thesubject by the imaging unit based on the angle and the distance measuredby the measurement unit; and a control unit that controls themeasurement unit to measure the distance, and controls the deriving unitto derive the in-image irradiation position based on the distancemeasured by the measurement unit and the angle changed by the changeunit, until the in-image irradiation position falls in a default rangewithin the captured image in a case where the in-image irradiationposition is out of the default range, a performing unit that performs atleast one of focus adjustment or exposure adjustment on the subject; anda reception unit that receives an imaging preparation instruction tocause the performing unit to start to perform at least one of the focusadjustment or the exposure adjustment before actual exposing isperformed by the imaging unit, wherein the control unit performs thecontrol in a case where the imaging preparation instruction is receivedby the reception unit.
 7. The distance measurement device according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit controls the measurement unit tointermittently measure the distance, and the control unit performs thecontrol in a case where a dissimilarity between a distance used in thederiving of the in-image irradiation position performed in a previousstage by the deriving unit and a latest distance measured by themeasurement unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value.
 8. Thedistance measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the controlunit controls a second display unit to display the captured image, andfurther controls such that the latest in-image irradiation positionderived by the deriving unit is displayed so as to be specified in adisplay region of the captured image.
 9. The distance measurement deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a third displayunit to display the captured image, and further controls such that thedefault range is displayed so to be specified in a display region of thecaptured image.
 10. The distance measurement device according to claim1, wherein the control unit controls a first notification unit to notifythat the in-image irradiation position is within the default rage in acase where the in-image irradiation position is within the defaultrange.
 11. The distance measurement device according to claim 1, whereinthe control unit controls a second notification unit to notify that thein-image irradiation position is out of the default range in a casewhere the in-image irradiation position is out of the default range. 12.A control method for distance measurement, comprising: deriving anin-image irradiation position, which corresponds to an irradiationposition of directional light which is light having directivity on to asubject used in measurement performed by a measurement unit thatmeasures a distance to the subject by emitting the directional light tothe subject and receiving reflection light of the directional light,within a captured image acquired by imaging the subject by an imagingunit that images the subject, based on the distance measured by themeasurement unit and an angle changed by a change unit that is capableof changing the angle at which the directional light is emitted, theimaging unit, the measurement unit, and the change unit being includedin a distance measurement device; and controlling the measurement unitto measure the distance and controlling the deriving unit to derive thein-image irradiation position based on the distance measured by themeasurement unit and the angle changed by the change unit until thein-image irradiation position falls in a default range within a capturedimage in a case where the in-image irradiation position is out of thedefault range, the default range being a specific region in a displayregion of the captured image.
 13. A non-transitory computer readablemedium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a process fordistance measurement, the process comprising: deriving an in-imageirradiation position, which corresponds to an irradiation position ofdirectional light which is light having directivity on to a subject usedin measurement performed by a measurement unit that measures a distanceto the subject by emitting the directional light to the subject andreceiving reflection light of the directional light, within a capturedimage acquired by imaging the subject by an imaging unit that images thesubject, based on the distance measured by the measurement unit and anangle changed by a change unit that is capable of changing the angle atwhich the directional light is emitted, the imaging unit, themeasurement unit, and the change unit being included in a distancemeasurement device; and controlling the measurement unit to measure thedistance and controlling the deriving unit to derive the in-imageirradiation position based on the distance measured by the measurementunit and the angle changed by the change unit until the in-imageirradiation position falls in a default range within a captured image ina case where the in-image irradiation position is out of the defaultrange, the default range being a specific region in a display region ofthe captured image.